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Wells Fargo Pocket Rain Gardens
Wells Fargo installed several pocket rain gardens along Beaumont Avenue and Pine Street within the
company’s downtown campus. The gardens, planted between the curb and the sidewalk, were
proposed to retain approximately 530,000 gallons of water each year. The gardens are planted with
native plants; as an added perk, milkweed has attracted monarch butterflies.
Rainscaping type: Pocket rain gardens
Challenges: The small size of each pocket rain garden offered a unique design challenge. Besides making
it difficult to meet the best management practices (BMP) design requirements, the small space caused
some construction issues – when the construction crew began tearing up the ground, they discovered
utility conflicts and that the curb concrete extended farther back than originally anticipated.
Solution: Before proceeding with the rain garden installation, the surplus concrete was removed. The
MSD Planning and Development Review team worked with the design engineer to maximize volume
reduction and fit the rainscaping technology into the available space. “The strategic placement and
number of basins allowed us to divert as much runoff as possible along our stretch of Beaumont Street,”
said Jay Gooding, Wells Fargo assistant vice president, corporate properties group.
What makes this project unique: A great example of corporate environmental stewardship, the pocket
rain gardens offer an opportunity to inform Wells Fargo employees and visitors about stormwater
retention and green infrastructure, as signs installed along the rain gardens spread awareness of the
project and its purpose. In addition, this project illustrates what is possible in an urban setting with tight
space restrictions while improving the aesthetics of the area. “We take environmental stewardship very
seriously and saw this as an opportunity to make a positive impact on our community and the local
environment,” Gooding said.
About MSD’s Rainscaping Large-Scale Grant Program: This rainscaping grant program (previously called
the Early Action Program) seeks to engage partners to identify joint opportunities to incorporate
rainscaping into ongoing programs and future redevelopment projects. Each grant awarded allows MSD
to create a public-private partnership that contributes to the environmental, social, and economic
health of the St. Louis region. For more information or to learn how to apply for your organization, visit
projectclearstl.org.