Why Install a Storm Water Demonstration Project?
Artist Rendering of TSA Green Roof
As a result of generous funding awarded through Federal Section 319(h) grant under the Clean Water Act from the Ohio EPA and additional support from the Harold and Helen McMaster Family Foundation, TSA and The City of Toledo were awarded $98,420 to install a green roof and parking lot bioswale.
That's great but why install a green roof and parking lot bioswale? TSA, The City of Toledo and our other project partners are committed to improve local storm water quality by reducing the amount and rate of storm water run-off as well as the amount of pollution in the run-off from our urban school site. The addition of the green roof and parking lot bioswale also increases TSA's green space and will act as a site for community outreach, hosting public tours and becoming a working model for other organizations initiating storm water demonstration projects. But most importantly, the green roof and parking lot bioswale has been integrated into the science curriculum, becoming a "living lab" for our science students. Said Jason Thomas, one of our science faculty, "This project reflects the goals and mission of TSA in that it is student-focused but ripples out to the community. This grant will not only benefit the individual student, it improves our neighborhood, our community, and the western basin of Lake Erie. TSA science students have been busy writing research papers, fact sheets and newsletters on the project. In addition, students have designed collection devices to collect and test the storm water run-off, which will be sent to the Ohio EPA to determine what types and amounts of pollutants are being reduced as a result of the installing the green roof and bioswale.
However, not just TSA science students are involved; it's a school-wide initiative as our graphic design students under the guidance of Joy Carson took on the project as a client and created the project logo that you see above. This logo integrating science, technology and design will be used on all project related marketing and publication materials. Several other students created a Green Roof Documentary to help educate the public, while others wrote a Green Roof Rap that was performed at one of our First Friday Events. We expect that the opportunities for integration at TSA and in the community will continue as this project grows.
To find out more about the individual project elements like the green roof and bioswale or view more photos click on the other tabs at the top of the page.
That's great but why install a green roof and parking lot bioswale? TSA, The City of Toledo and our other project partners are committed to improve local storm water quality by reducing the amount and rate of storm water run-off as well as the amount of pollution in the run-off from our urban school site. The addition of the green roof and parking lot bioswale also increases TSA's green space and will act as a site for community outreach, hosting public tours and becoming a working model for other organizations initiating storm water demonstration projects. But most importantly, the green roof and parking lot bioswale has been integrated into the science curriculum, becoming a "living lab" for our science students. Said Jason Thomas, one of our science faculty, "This project reflects the goals and mission of TSA in that it is student-focused but ripples out to the community. This grant will not only benefit the individual student, it improves our neighborhood, our community, and the western basin of Lake Erie. TSA science students have been busy writing research papers, fact sheets and newsletters on the project. In addition, students have designed collection devices to collect and test the storm water run-off, which will be sent to the Ohio EPA to determine what types and amounts of pollutants are being reduced as a result of the installing the green roof and bioswale.
However, not just TSA science students are involved; it's a school-wide initiative as our graphic design students under the guidance of Joy Carson took on the project as a client and created the project logo that you see above. This logo integrating science, technology and design will be used on all project related marketing and publication materials. Several other students created a Green Roof Documentary to help educate the public, while others wrote a Green Roof Rap that was performed at one of our First Friday Events. We expect that the opportunities for integration at TSA and in the community will continue as this project grows.
To find out more about the individual project elements like the green roof and bioswale or view more photos click on the other tabs at the top of the page.