This spring West Hanover volunteers will build and plant a community rain garden at Fairville Park. The public is invited to learn and take part in designing the garden at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, at the West Hanover Township Municipal Building, 7171 Allentown Boulevard. Rain gardens are small gardens designed to soak up rainwater that runs off roofs, driveways and other hard surfaces.

During the March 15 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Rebecca Wertime from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB) will outline the overall concepts and functions of a rain garden. Then participants will create the plan, using data specific to the Fairville Park site. The rain garden will be located next to the playground, and will receive stormwater runoff from the parking lot.

The workday to build the garden is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, at Fairville Park, beginning at 9 a.m.? Everyone is welcome to come out (rain or shine), learn, observe and/or participate!

Staff from the ACB and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council will provide resources, and partial funding for the project under a PA? DCNR? grant concerning the health of the Kittatinny Ridge watersheds. The Kittatinny Ridge, better known locally as Blue Mountain, is designated by Audubon Pennsylvania as a PA Important Bird Area.

For more details about the rain garden project contact a member of the West Hanover Environmental Advisory Council directly or call the municipal building at 652-4841.