Celebrating Sustainable Water Feature at LIRR Station

To celebrate the rainwater harvesting project we installed at Huntington’s LIRR station, we are holding a ribbon cutting this Friday, May 1st at 12:30 p.m. (corner of Broadway and New York Ave.)

The feature was built by Deck and Patio’s sustainable division — Rainwater Harvesting Group. It involved adding robust plantings to help beautify the area, a serene water feature consisting of a stream with waterfalls (all of which are sustained by captured rainwater), and a paver pathway.

Funding was supplied by us and the Town of Huntington’s Environmental Open Space & Park Fund (EOSPA) Committee.

“The project was actually completed a few years ago — just two days before Hurricane Sandy hit Long Island,” says Deck and Patio owner, Bill Renter. “After Sandy, thoughts of any ribbon cutting slipped people’s minds. It was when this year’s Earth Day was on the horizon recently, that the idea to finally have a ribbon cutting came about.”

The idea for the project was initially inspired by a casual conversation Deck and Patio owner Bill Renter had with a few women who live near the train station. They were planting flowers to brighten up the area. As the local landscaper, he offered to add plants, flowers, shrubs and moss rocks.

“However, I learned at that time that there was no immediate access to clean water,” says Renter. “The women had been lugging five-gallon buckets of water from their condos to maintain the plants they put in. I thought there must be a way to help with that, too.

“Then I noticed there was no walkway beyond the small brick and cement sidewalk. There was only a dirt path. It was not handicap accessible and it seemed like the spot needed more than just plants and shrubs.”

After gaining the support of the Town of Huntington, along with our Rainwater Harvesting Group, we went to work.

“Enough water is captured to not only sustain the stream and waterfalls, but to irrigate all the plantings,” says Renter. “Plus, this eco-friendly system keeps any non-filtered rainwater from going into the Town’s sewer system and on into Huntington Bay.”

The May 1st ribbon cutting is being held with the support of Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce. This water feature earned for Deck and Patio a bronze medal from the Long Island Pool and Spa Association.