General • Inspections

Rain Park Garden Maintenance and Inspection Guidance: After Large Storms

It is recommended that you use this checklist to complete periodic safety checks of the outdoor play area to reduce the potential of accidents and injuries. Regular inspection and maintenance are critical to ensure that rain gardens function as designed and should be performed per the schedule provided as part of routine park maintenance operations.

MaintainX

07/21/2022

Rain Park Garden Maintenance and Inspection Guidance: After Large Storms

Water from rainfall and spray park flows over land to concrete flow channels and into rain gardens, where water soaks into soil and pollutants are filtered out. Any overflow moves through flow channel on to the next garden, with final discharge at storm sewer.

Regular inspection and maintenance are critical to ensure that rain gardens function as designed and should be performed per the schedule below as part of routine park maintenance operations:

Maintenance & Inspection Activities

Remove trash and organic debris from within and around gardens

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Flag
Fail

Remove sediment build-up from surface of infiltration bed and sediment forebay**

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Flag
Fail

Remove dead plants and replace with approved species

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Flag
Fail

Check for and repair soil erosion gullies within the gardens

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Fail

Check signage and report if missing or faded. Clean if tagged.

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Fail

All inspections/activities are intended to be performed during the growing season, and on an as-needed basis

Sediment shall be disposed of offsite in a pre-approved location

TROUBLESHOOTING AND LONGTERM MAINTENANCE

Some maintenance and inspection considerations are beyond the basics and may require some troubleshooting

A major cause of tree and shrub loss is planting them too deep. When planting, keep trunk flare at or a little above existing ground level and when backfilling do not cover trunk flare. Mulch should be at least 4 inches away from the trunk.

Erosion within the system can signal different problems depending on its location. If erosion is occurring near overflow then the garden may be too small to handle the amount of water it is receiving. If erosion is occurring through the garden then flow paths must be considered and energy dissipators adjusted or added.

If standing water is remaining 48 hours after a storm event or last spray park use, surface layer (1”-2”) of soil is clogged and should be removed and replaced. Be sure to dispose of sediment properly.

Do not fertilize or add compost as a soil amendment to rain gardens. Part of the function of a rain garden is to trap and remove nutrient loads. Compost and fertilizers are both sources of nutrients.

After 3-year establishment period, add to checklist: Mow rain garden plants once in early spring to 1/3 their height

Source: MaintainX (Community Member)