KU News Release

KU students create campus rain garden at Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center

LAWRENCE — After nearly two years of planning, volunteers will begin planting more than 2,500 native plants at the University of Kansas Student Rain Garden at 10 a.m. April 22 at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center.

A rain garden is a planted depression that allows for the absorption of rainwater runoff from urban areas such as roofs, sidewalks, driveways and lawns. Water from the rooftop of the new addition to the Ambler center will be distributed along the garden, where the plants will help remove pollutants to improve water quality and reduce flow into the storm drain system.

Once established, the garden will be self-sustaining, and the native plants will be able to survive with no fertilizer or pesticides and little maintenance.

Jeff Severin, director of the Center for Sustainability, hopes the garden will raise awareness about the use of native plants to reduce the need for watering and chemical use, and inform people about stormwater management.

“The garden will help promote these ideas throughout the community and spark discussions about other projects both on campus and off,” he said.

The rain garden was implemented by Emerging Green Builders, a coalition of students and young professionals intent on promoting the integration of future leaders into the green building movement.

“The rain garden is significant in that it shows what students, faculty and staff can do when they work together,” said Laura Foster, vice president of Emerging Green Builders. “We hope that this project inspires other students to take on their own projects and keep the community moving in a positive direction.”

Funding for the garden comes from Recreation Services, the Center for Sustainability (through a Kansas Department of Health and Environment grant) and Student Senate. Emerging Green Builders also was a beneficiary of a 2008 football tailgating promotion.

The community is invited to attend a brief recognition ceremony and volunteer to assist with the planting throughout the day. For more information about the garden, visit www.sustainability.ku.edu/raingarden/.

Students and recent alumni who are members of Emerging Green Builders are listed below by hometown, year in school, major, parents’ names and high schools.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Neil Steiner, senior in architecture and architectural engineering; Bishop Kelley High School, Tulsa, Okla.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Fort Leavenworth 66027
Johnn Dannley Kenny, senior in civil engineering, son of Kraig and Deborah Kenny; Leavenworth Senior High School.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY
From Independence 67301
England Galadriel Porter, senior in environmental studies, daughter of Paul and Susan Porter; Independence Senior High School.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66604
Anna Hoard, senior in musicology and voice performance, daughter of Robert and Mary Hoard; Topeka High School.

MISSOURI
From Ballwin 63021
Callie Statz, junior in architectural engineering with a minor in business, daughter of Peter and Jacqueline Statz; Marquette High School, Chesterfield, Mo.

From Ferguson 63135
Laura N. Foster, graduate student in architecture, daughter of Darrel and Jan Foster; McCluer High School, Florissant, Mo.

From Kansas City 64114 and Pawhuska, Okla.
Raymond “Studie” Red Corn. See OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA
From Pawhuska 74056 and Kansas City, Mo.
Raymond “Studie” Red Corn, bachelor’s in civil engineering with environmental emphasis from KU, spring 2008; son of Raymond and Louise Red Corn of Pawhuska and the late Elizabeth Red Corn; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, Kan. He works as an environmental engineer in the water services division at CDM in Kansas City, Mo.

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