Photos: Lafayette Dedicates First Street Rain Garden

LAFAYETTE, CA — The City of Lafayette shared photos from a dedication ceremony held Saturday for the city's First Street Rain Garden at the southwest corner of First Street and Golden Gate Way.

In addition to being a beautiful place to take in nature, the new rain garden has an important function. It captures rainwater runoff from storm drains on Golden Gate Way, then removes pollutants as the water slowly percolates through native vegetation, and layers of compost, sand and soil. The filtered water then helps recharge the groundwater along Lafayette Creek. This process protects aquatic habitats and improves the quality of life in Lafayette.

Several regional and local officials spoke during the ceremony. Will Elder, chair of the Lafayette Creeks Committee, emceed the event which included a ribbon cutting.

There was also a Land Acknowledgment statement recognizing the Saclan people.

The First Street Rain Garden project is one component of the Downtown Creeks Preservation, Restoration and Development Plan, which was adopted by the city in 2017.

The Lafayette City Council awarded a contract on Aug. 8, 2022, to Grade Tech Inc. for $546,883 (after the lowest bidder withdrew its bid) for the construction of the rain garden.