By Abbey Ascolani, RORG Student Team
Howdy!
This was the typical email greeting the Red Oak Rain Garden team would receive from former RORG Project Engineer, Tony Heath, who I recently had the pleasure of interviewing. While Tony contributed a great deal to the early development stages of the rain garden, his professional journey is equally fascinating.
Introduction
Tony is from Frankfort, IL and received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at Vanderbilt University. After college, he worked at a civil engineering firm doing site design, which entailed the design of all outdoor elements on properties, excluding the buildings themselves. From this, he grew an interest in stormwater management after witnessing the devastating effects of floods in Nashville, TN. Tony wanted to pursue a more sustainable and naturalistic approach to urban design, so he returned to school to earn his master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Transition to Green Stormwater Practices
Tony’s position at the civil engineering firm helped him realize he wanted to transition from designing to planning. He felt motivated to encourage local governments and municipalities to enforce regulations that would benefit the long-term effects of urban planning. While taking a landscape architecture course at UIUC, he discovered the Red Oak Rain Garden from a student in one of his classes who was already a part of the team.
Role in RORG Project
Shortly after discovering RORG and reaching out to the Project Director, Eliana Brown, Tony’s background and engineering license earned him the role of Project Engineer. This position involved taking the concept phases of the rain garden and developing those designs through construction drawings so it could be built. He also helped develop specifications for soil amendments, meaning what types of soil should be used in certain areas of the garden.
Tony was nothing short of fundamental in overseeing the construction of the garden, as he was there almost every day during the summer of 2019. Along with the other Team members, he ensured the design was coming together.
Overcoming Challenges During Construction
Some challenges Tony remembers during this project involved the prolonged planning stages and quick adaptations required for the bridge construction. He emphasized the importance of the planning stages of projects, especially the process of coordinating with campus facilities and stakeholders beforehand to be able to fulfill the project as a whole. He also shared that the original plan for the bridge involved using Osage Orange wood, but they faced a setback when they couldn’t obtain enough of it from Allerton Park. Despite challenges like this, Tony and the team were able to adapt and proceed with the project.
Memorable Moments and Rewarding Experiences
Later on, Tony reflected on some memorable moments and experiences that he had while being a part of the Red Oak Rain Garden team. For instance, he stressed the value of having a diverse group of people who contributed to this project, some being master gardeners, university students in landscape architecture classes, engineering classes, and even an archaeology class. Tony also confessed how the Guardian of the Galaxy music playlist proved to be an excellent tool in uniting this team while building this beautiful project. Ooga Chaka!
Overall, Tony expressed, “This is one of the most rewarding projects I’ve gotten to do in my career so far”. He highlights the significance of the rain garden as a prominent campus project in which he played a role. Whenever he returns to the campus, he’ll proudly be able to point it out.
Hopes for Rain Garden and Campus Green Infrastructure
Tony hopes that the rain garden continues to be a source of inspiration for what can be accomplished and will remain a representation of what green infrastructure projects can look like. Longevity must be prioritized as well, saying how he hopes the garden continues to be taken care of and maintained for its lifespan.
Recently, while at the University of Michigan, a colleague of his mentioned the RORG as being the highlight of a tour on our campus without knowing that Tony was part of this project. While being flattered by this, he is proud to know that we are having an impact on other universities and areas around the Midwest.
In Tony’s words, “The Red Oak Rain Garden is just one example of a green infrastructure project that can influence more to be built both at UIUC and other universities”.
Current Projects
Tony is currently involved in an impressive range of projects with a focus on green infrastructure initiatives. One notable project is in a town near Cincinnati, Ohio, along the Great Miami River, and involves transforming a vacant plot of land into an arboretum. Tony has been tasked with developing a stormwater management plan, integrating various green infrastructure elements like wet ponds, wetlands, native plant meadows, and rain gardens.
Another project in Grand Rapids, Nebraska, involves the restoration of the Grand River rapids, which aims to restore the natural rapids and revitalize the downtown area. This project intends to improve fish habitats upstream and downstream, and also provide recreational opportunities such as kayaking.
Although being multifaceted and complex, all of these endeavors are proving to be an engaging and rewarding pursuit for Tony.
Closing Thoughts
The contributions Tony has dedicated to the planning and development of the Red Oak Rain Garden cannot be understated, and he remains a valued team member emeritus whose work is always on display. We appreciate you and thank you for your remarkable work, Tony!
Abbey Ascolani is a Senior at UIUC studying Communication with a minor in Legal Studies. Her interests include traveling to national parks, learning about film and television, and spending quality time with family and friends. From being a camp counselor to hammocking around campus, Abbey has a profound passion for the outdoors and will never say no to an opportunity to explore. She is eager to contribute to the missions of the Red Oak Rain Garden, such as community and student engagement, and develop her educational goals through this internship.
Cover Photo by RORG Director Eliana Brown.
redoakraingarden.org 