Kingsley Street rain garden project expected to relieve flooding problems

The Ann Arbor City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday night to approve a $25,440 contact with Conservation Design Forum for design, construction and management services for the rain garden portion of the project. Funding, including a project contingency of $2,500, is coming from the city's stormwater capital budget.

The City Council already took action back in November to accept a Federal Emergency Management Administration grant to purchase the property, demolish the structure, and deed-restrict the property as open space. The rain garden is separate from the FEMA grant.

Demolition of the existing structure is expected to be finished by this fall, according to Jerry Hancock, the city's stormwater and floodplain coordinator. CDF will develop the grading plan to be used by the demolition contractor. Rain garden construction will follow.

The purpose of the rain garden, Hancock said in a memo to council, is to reduce flooding in the area by increasing both flood storage capacity and the potential for stormwater infiltration. He said it will help reduce the frequency of street flooding where Kingsley meets First Street.

The project site is in the floodway of Allen Creek, about 2,250 feet upstream of its outlet into the Huron River. Hancock said the site of the proposed rain garden is a local low spot within the Allen Creek floodplain and is one of the first areas to flood in the entire system. CDF will prepare grading and planting plans for the project. CDF's sub-consultant, PlantWise, will install the rain garden and take on maintenance responsibility for three years.

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