Monarch Waystation

A local rain garden installed with help from the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services and City Utilities has recently been certified as a Monarch Waystation.

In 2013, Creighton-Home Neighborhood residents received a grant to install three rain gardens on vacant lots. Residents have been caring for the gardens and recently decided to create a Monarch Waystation.

Creighton-Home Neighborhood President Dawn Parnin has been helping care for the rain garden located at 2306 South Wayne Ave. and became interested in monarch butterflies. The monarch population is declining because of loss of habitat both in the United States and Mexico, where they migrate in the winter months. Monarch Waystations provide nectar plants for food and milkweed plants for breeding. Learn more here.

Parnin recently planted several types of milkweed and has seen monarchs in the Creighton-Home rain garden this summer. She applied to have the rain garden certified as a Monarch Waystation this year. Parnin hopes to use the garden to educate neighbors and their children about monarchs as well as the purpose of rain gardens.

In 2013 when Creighton-Home received the rain garden grant, neighbors worked closely with City staff throughout the process, setting goals and measuring accomplishments. They recruited volunteers, asked businesses for support and met with landscape architects and contractors. The resulting rain gardens help minimize alley flooding and the debris that the flooding leaves behind. They also help to remove pollutants from rain water that flows into the City’s storm sewers and help prevent sewer backups during heavy rainfalls.