Rain Gardens · Meadow Lake
Beautiful yards can do important work
Rain gardens collect runoff, help water soak into the ground, support native habitat, and reduce what reaches Meadow Lake. New Hope's Cost Share Program is designed to help residents get started.
What a rain garden does
A rain garden is a shallow planted basin located where it can capture water from a roof, driveway, or sloped yard. Deep-rooted plants help filter runoff and create space for water to soak into the soil.
✓    Capture stormwater close to where it falls
✓   Reduce runoff volume and speed
✓   Filter sediment and nutrients
✓   Add native plant and pollinator habitat
Rain Garden Cost Share Program
The city of New Hope is partnering with Metro Blooms and the Conservation Corps to help residents manage stormwater runoff by planning and installing rain gardens at a reduced cost to the homeowner. Metro Blooms provides the technical expertise to design the rain gardens, and the Conservation Corps provides the labor to help install the gardens. Residents are responsible for installing the plants and continued maintenance of the rain garden.Â
​
The rain gardens installed through this program are generally 100-150 square feet and capture runoff from downspouts, sidewalks, or driveways.Â
Rain gardens in our community
North Meadow Lake Road
This 465 sq. ft. rain garden was the pilot garden for the New Hope cost share program. It includes a curb cut to catch runoff from the road during rain storms, significantly reducing sediment entry into Meadow Lake. There are 300 total plants from 26 different species located within the bowl of the rain garden.
Aquila Avenue North
A 150 square foot rain garden installed in the spring of 2025. Featuring Blue Flag Iris, dogwood, cardinal flower, turtleheads, and swamp milkweed, these plants are geared towards succeeding in heavily wet soil while providing critical butterfly habitat.