City of Minneapolis Great Streets Program Recipient Metro Blooms to Unveil Unique Art Installation that Manages Storm Water Runoff
Open House to take place at Black Forest Inn on Wednesday, April 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
WHAT: On Wednesday, April 13, the City of Minneapolis Great Streets program, Metro Blooms, and Black Forest Inn will unveil a unique art installation developed to manage rain water run off formerly flooding the restaurant’s patio and adjacent event space. The artistic sculpture was designed by Metro Blooms and the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center over a year and a half period to move rainwater from the roof across the patio and down a water wall into a raingarden and planter. Formerly, the roof run off was emptied into the City’s sewer system. A change in the City’s rainleader ordinance (a separation of the City’s sewer system and the stormwater drainage system) caused the Black Forest Inn to need to manage stormwater on its own property and thus the flooding began. The $33,000 project was funded by the Black Forest Inn, City of Minneapolis Great Streets Program, Hennepin County, and Mississippi Watershed Management
Organization. The project is expected to save the restaurant $200 per year on their stormwater utility fee in addition to allowing them to use their patio rain or shine.
The event will take place at the Black Forest Inn located 1 East 26th Street, Minneapolis from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Business owners interested in learning about commercial stormwater management practices are invited to come and take a tour of the new patio and meet with Metro Blooms’ designers and partners.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
WHERE: Black Forest Inn, 1 East 26th Street, Minneapolis
WHY: Many commercial properties do not have obvious opportunities for large stormwater management practices. Conventional raingardens normally require ample green space and quite often commercial space is reserved for parking and buildings. The newly installed feature of the Black Forest patio space is an example for property owners with challenging conditions who are looking to beautify their landscape and promote water quality. This project will serve as a demonstration to help business owners imagine creative solutions and innovative practices for their own properties.
MORE: The project was made possible by the Black Forest Inn, Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center, the City of Minneapolis Great Streets program, Earth Wizards, Inc., Hennepin County, Metro Blooms, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Twin City Contracting, and the Whittier Neighborhood Alliance.