Waynesburg, Pa. – The borough is moving ahead with a rain garden in the heart of Ritchie Park, a project designed to soak up stormwater and protect neighboring properties from runoff. Assistant Borough Manager Bryan Cumberledge said early construction is finished and planting will begin next spring.
Funding and purpose
The garden is financed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Under a state requirement, PennDOT must create wetland space to offset additional runoff generated by a recent Route 88 improvement project in eastern Greene County. Gannett Fleming project engineer Robert Dengler explained the need to the council last year.
“They were looking for a project, and we were looking for a rain garden, and we were working with the (Greene County) Conservation District about how to get one,” Cumberledge said. “The conservation guy found out about the PennDOT guy and put everybody together.”
Design and benefits
The rain garden consists of a shallow trench filled with native, water‑loving plants that capture rainwater for up to two days. Cumberledge noted the design stops short of the seven‑day period needed for mosquito larvae to develop, reducing the risk of breeding grounds.
“It was definitely engineered for what kind of species really love the water and do good in rain gardens,” he added. The garden will allow rain to infiltrate the ground rather than flow onto nearby properties or into storm systems, addressing historic flooding issues in Ritchie Park.
Future impact on permitting
As Pennsylvania tightens permitting rules for municipal storm‑drain systems, the borough sees the rain garden as a proactive step. “One kind of feather in your hat is to have one of these,” Cumberledge said. “So at least we’ll have something done ahead of time that will help us with our permitting process.”
Environmental context
The Department of Environmental Protection reports that roughly 19,000 miles of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are classified as impaired, largely due to stormwater pollution. Projects like Waynesburg’s rain garden aim to reverse that trend by filtering runoff at its source.
Construction crews have already dug the garden’s basin and laid out planting beds for trees and other vegetation. The borough expects to plant the native species next spring, completing the garden before the next rainy season.
Community response
Local residents who walk past Ritchie Park will soon see signage explaining the garden’s purpose, reassuring them that the tall grasses are intentional, not neglect. The project reflects Waynesburg’s commitment to responsible stewardship of its natural resources and to protecting families’ homes from flood damage.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
