$250,000 Additional Funding Announced for Green Solutions in Kansas City's Marlborough Neighborhood

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will recognize homeowners in the Marlborough area of Kansas City, Mo., this week for installing rain gardens, rain barrels and other green solutions to reduce storm water runoff.

A tour of rain gardens and other green solutions will be held for news media and city officials from 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, July 22. A formal news conference will follow at 12 p.m. at 1312 E. 79th St., Kansas City, Mo. Officials will be on site to provide residents information about the use of rain gardens as effective tools for managing storm water.

EPA has completed the installation of eight demonstration rain gardens at private residences in the Marlborough area of Kansas City. The agency is also installing 20 rain barrels and disconnecting an equal number of roof drains that are connected to the sewer system in the same area. These demonstration projects on private property complement the work the city is doing to install rain gardens, permeable pavement and other green solutions in the public right of way of a 100-acre area that extends from 73rd Street to 77th Terrace and Holmes Road to Paseo Boulevard.

EPA has provided more than $1 million to assist in Kansas City’s green solutions effort through its National Risk Management Research Laboratories in Cincinnati, Ohio; Edison, N.J.; and its Region 7 office. Partners on this project include Mid-America Regional Council, city of Kansas City, Mo., University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Alabama, Tetra Tech EMI, Shockey Consultants, Marlborough Coalition and student volunteers.

Source: EPA