Fairlawn Wants to Create Rain Garden in Park

The city plans to turn a retention pond at Croghan Park into a rain garden this summer.

Mayor William Roth said the area will be graded and filled with plants native to the area. The plants will filter and clean the water and -- he hopes -- attract wildlife.

"It will help the environment a little and educate the public," Roth said.The mayor said he wants to also erect signs with the names and descriptions of the plants.

Council President Russ Sharnsky said the rain garden will be part of a project to replace a pedestrian foot bridge in the park.

"It will be aesthetically pleasing, but also help educate people about erosion," he said.

The 7.5-acre Croghan Park, located at the corner of North Miller Road and Sand Run Parkway, has a walking trail and tennis, handball and basketball courts. It also has playground equipment and co-hosts the city's summer park program.

Roth said he expects the project to go out for bid in April.

"We're excited," he said. "We planning to put it in this summer."