Motorists pass by either side of the garden in the median of 25th Street in Cleveland, Tenn., on Monday afternoon. The garden was recently featured in the American Public Works Association magazine.CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The flower garden in the middle of 25th Street is catching the eye of more than passing motorists.
The median garden recently was featured in the American Public Works Association magazine.
“To achieve the end results of an aesthetically pleasing entry corridor that captures and filters rainwater as well as provides a potential escape route for traffic, the city of Cleveland implemented a unique, multifunctional landscaped median project,” the magazine states.
The design, including deep layers of water filtering material topped by tough plants including roses, has already been successfully tested by Mother Nature, the article said. The plants include purple flowering crepe myrtle, “Double Red Knock Out” roses, “Snowcap” Indian hawthorn, “David” viburnum and “Happy Returns” daylilies.
“This wasn’t just me,” said Urban Forester Dan Hartman. “Basically, we made a modified rain garden down the middle of 25th Street. It purifies the water as the water goes through and beautifies as well.”
Hartman credited the city Public Works Department for working “their tails off to get this in.”
“All the Parks and Recreation, Forestry workers planted everything and they maintain it,” he said.
When the project is finished, the garden will run from Interstate 75 to Spring Creek, funded by Tennessee Department of Transportation grants.
“It has taken five years to just get this off the ground,” said Jan Cheek, chairwoman of the City Tree Board.
The Tree Board recently presented Hartman with a plaque bearing the article.
Contact staff writer Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.