Community Groups Plan Biddle Building Rain Garden

Three community organizations are coming together to beautify the Biddle Building with a new rain garden slated for completion in September.

Currently in the planning stages, the rain garden, which will be located on South Braddock Avenue near the tennis courts in front of the building, is being created in conjunction with , and the .

Stephen Hirtle of Regent Square, a member of RSCA and the tennis club, is coordinating those efforts.

“There are two downspouts at the building, so one will lead to a to feed other plants and the other downspout will go down under the sidewalk and then feed the garden directly,” Hirtle said. “Whenever it rains, the water will go into that garden and the plants are designed to take the right amount of water.”

Hirtle is volunteering to get the three organizations together to complete the project.

The tennis club will provide the ongoing maintenance and weeding of the rain garden. The civic association has been coordinating efforts with the department of public works in the City of Pittsburgh, which will send crews to dig up the land to create the soil space. Nine Mile Run will help with the installation of the garden itself.

Jose Mieres of Squirrel Hill, who leads the tennis club, said he is excited about residents and neighbors coming together for the project.

"With this rain garden, we hope to plant the seeds for even more collaboration between the outstanding community organizations that show the character of the many who enjoy and care deeply about Frick Park," Mieres said.

On Sept. 24, is holding a rain garden workshop at the Environmental Charter School. Rather than giving a lecture, organizers will show people how to prepare the soil at the actual site of the Biddle building rain garden.

“These efforts are clearly good for the environment and the watershed,” Hirtle said. “I also think it will help beautify the Biddle Building, which a lot of people drive by and don’t even notice. It’s an interesting historical building that needs some TLC, and this is a part of that.”

Hirtle also said he enjoys giving back.

“I like the idea of being a part of a community group and helping—we’re trying to get as many people in the community involved and excited to help out," he said.

For more information on the Biddle rain garden project, e-mail contact@regentsquare-RSCA.org.