Landscape & Ecology

Rain Gardens

Pitt’s 9 rain gardens detain and absorb excess rainwater, enabling it to naturally infiltrate into and nourish the soil, while helping mitigate Pittsburgh’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) issues.

What is a Rain Garden?

  • Bigelow Boulevard – features a series of rain gardens.
  • Cathedral Rain Garden – is very visible, located on the Cathedral lawn between Heinz Chapel and the log cabin.
  • Petersen Events Center Rain Garden – includes 4 rain gardens, 1 of which was the University’s first rain garden which came to fruition form ideas initiated by students; it now also hosts a solitary bee house.
  • Salk Hall Annex Rain Gardens (2)
  • Sutherland Hall Rain Garden