This project was conceived and led by a single Boy Scout, assisted by the City of Clemson and CU Recycling.
The City of Clemson removed land from the eroded areas in the park to facilitate the project for the Boy Scouts.
Clemson Recycling had the opportunity to partner with the Boy Scouts and the City of Clemson to create a bioretention basin in Gateway Park along the Green Crescent Trail. Clemson Recycling donated compost for the project, which was used along with topsoil to create a soil mix for filling in space where eroded land was removed. Not only will this project beautify and control erosion in the park, it will create a valuable opportunity to educate the Clemson community about the uses of compost in caring for the environment.
Members of the CU Recycling Team assisted the Boy Scouts with the construction phase.
The majority of the work took place last week in Gateway Park. The City of Clemson prepared for the project by digging out eroded areas of land, and the Boy Scouts came to the park on Saturday to work. Removing the eroded areas of land made room for swales, which work similarly to gutters, catching all the rainwater. Where a gutter would allow all the water to just pour out and away, a swale catches the water and slowly releases it back to the earth over time. On Saturday, the Boy Scouts worked together to fill in the swales with the soil mix. Soil mix is better than clay because it provides for greater permeability and it promotes a healthy soil ecosystem for future planting.
Projects like this are wonderful ways for the community to be inspired by others showing their appreciation for the environment. According to a Water Resource agent with Clemson University, bioretention projects like this one are great examples of “Low Impact Development (LID) within our Clemson community.” Normally, rainwater would build up and flood nearby roads, parking lots and rooftops. Buildup of water like this can contribute to “erosion and pollution of ground and surface water via stormwater runoff.” Thanks to this project, our water is cleaner, and our landscape is healthier and more beautiful. It’s because of people like those involved with this project that our shared resources can continue to improve!
The swales will prove to be an essential and valued contribution to the environment, creating more opportunities for healthy growth while preventing flooding.
