Demonstration Garden

Eco-friendly development uses natural processes to reduce environmental impact and create healthier places for people and wildlife. By addressing issues such as stormwater runoff, heat island effects, and habitat loss, we can design landscapes that place less strain on surrounding ecosystems while improving quality of life.

Managing stormwater close to where it falls is one of the most effective ways to reduce environmental impact. When rain is allowed to soak into soil, be taken up by plants, evaporate naturally, or be reused on site, it reduces runoff, limits erosion and flooding, and improves water quality. Techniques such as replacing lawn with native plantings, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and rain barrels help slow and absorb water rather than sending it into overburdened sewer systems or nearby waterways.

Trees are another essential part of eco-friendly development. They provide shade, manage stormwater, improve air quality, and cool urban environments. Technologies such as Structural Soils and Silva Cells reduce soil compaction and give roots the air and water they need to grow, helping trees live longer and deliver greater environmental benefits.

Planting native flowers, shrubs, and trees is another key component of Eco-friendly development. Once established, native plants typically require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides because they are adapted to local conditions. They also provide critical food and habitat for wildlife, helping restore ecosystems and offset habitat loss in developed areas.

Photo credit: Perry Eckhardt

Large, healthy trees improve neighborhoods by managing stormwater, supporting wildlife, and making outdoor spaces more comfortable and beautiful.

However, trees must be carefully selected to match site conditions and fit within tight urban spaces. We emphasize the use of native species, which are better adapted to local soils, moisture, and climate and provide greater ecological value. Also, the appropriate tree species must be matched to the right location to avoid safety hazards and ensure long-term health.

Healthy trees also depend on healthy root systems. In urban areas, soil beneath pavement often becomes so compacted that roots cannot grow properly, leading to stress and premature decline. When trees do survive, roots may grow directly beneath pavement, causing cracking and safety hazards. The Demonstration Garden highlights proven solutions to these challenges, including Silva Cells and Structural Soil.

The Brightside Demonstration Garden highlights sustainable ideas that can be applied in your own home landscape to reduce environmental impact, support local ecosystems, and lower long-term maintenance needs.

One of the most effective approaches is planting a dense and diverse mix of native plants. Native trees, shrubs, and perennials are adapted to local conditions, require fewer inputs, and provide essential food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

Managing stormwater on site is equally important. Turf can be replaced with native plantings, and downspouts can be directed into rain gardens that absorb and filter runoff. Rain barrels offer a simple way to capture and reuse water, while permeable pavement allow rainfall to soak into the ground instead of flowing into storm drains.

Unwanted chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides should be treated as household hazardous waste and never disposed of in sewers. Also preventing litter, yard waste, and pet waste from entering storm drains is essential to protecting water quality, our environment, and ultimately our drinking water.

Photo credit: Perry Eckhardt

 In urban areas, where buildings and pavement replace natural ground, stormwater moves quickly across hard surfaces, carrying pollutants such as oil, fertilizer, litter, and pet waste into local streams and rivers. This runoff contributes to flooding, erosion, and water pollution. Stormwater management focuses on designing landscapes to absorb and slow water where it falls.

The Brightside Demonstration Garden shows how these impacts can be reduced through simple, effective strategies. Native plantings, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and rain barrels slow and absorb stormwater before it enters the sewer system.

Large street trees are especially important for stormwater management. At Brightside, Silva Cells and Structural Soil allow trees to grow larger and live longer while capturing and storing rainwater beneath paved surfaces.