Rain Garden

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) builds and maintains rain gardens (also known as right-of-way bioswales) to manage stormwater runoff from streets and sidewalks and improve water quality in local waterways.

Rain gardens are planted areas that may look similar to a street tree pit or small garden. You can identify a rain garden by the following features:

Black metal fence with a bright blue rain garden decal along the fence post
Typically a tree and a variety of plants
Curb inlet and outlet that allow storm-water to enter the rain garden
Low area in the center to collect storm-water

Rain gardens are identified with blue DEP stickers.

You can report a drainage or maintenance issue with a Rain Garden.

Report a drainage or maintenance problem with a rain garden.

DEP schedules new Rain Garden plantings and manages regular planting maintenance during the spring and fall seasons.

Rain gardens and other types of green infrastructure have the following positive environmental impacts:

They beautify neighborhoods
Purify the air
Reduce temperatures during hot weather
Improve street drainage, AND
Reduce puddles and ponds

If you have questions or want more information about rain gardens you can contact DEP by email or phone.

By Email

RainGardens@dep.nyc.gov

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

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Report a drainage or maintenance problem with a rain garden.

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