Students bring bio-retention project to life

Students at Lloyd Street School put the finishing touches on a new bio-retention garden last week, planting a variety of prairie plants that will bloom from April through October.

The garden, and an associated environmental education curriculum, were created through a project coordinated by Judy Allen and former staff member Carolynn Leaman and funded by a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5.

Constructed in the middle of the school's large asphalt playground, the garden serves two purposes. It demonstrates a technique for handling stormwater runoff from a large paved surface, and serves as an environmental learning laboratory for Lloyd students.

Located at 1228 W. Lloyd St., the school is in an area receiving ongoing revitalization support from DCD. It is in the midst of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood, and across the street from the new Josey Heights housing development.