As 2025 comes to a close, the Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) has continued to flourish as both a living landscape and a hub for learning, creativity, and community connection. This year, the RORG Team—Eliana Brown, Layne Knoche, Maddy Craft—cared for the garden and welcomed people into it through stewardship, student engagement, public events, andContinueContinue reading “RORG’s 2025 Year-in-Review”
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This GivingTuesday, make a lasting impact with the Red Oak Rain Garden!
by C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director Did you know the Red Oak Rain Garden isn’t just a beautiful community space—it’s also beneficial to our majestic red oak? Before the rain garden existed, the oak had “wet feet” during storms, preventing it from thriving. People passing through also used to experience wet feet as rainwater floodedContinueContinue reading “This GivingTuesday, make a lasting impact with the Red Oak Rain Garden!”
Summer 2025 IISG Stormwater Intern: Jenna Balaban
Looking back on this summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and Illinois Extension. I leave with wonderful memories and an even deeper sense of connection to the community that cares so deeply about integrating sustainable infrastructure into our world. I feel so grateful for all that I haveContinueContinue reading “Summer 2025 IISG Stormwater Intern: Jenna Balaban “
The 2025 Illinois Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference
I recently had the chance to sit down with Betsy Jo Richardson and Colleen Ruhter, two of the organizers behind the Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference. While the conference has always been a space to learn, in 2025 it’s opening its arms even wider. This year, the focus stretches to include broader topics andContinueContinue reading “The 2025 Illinois Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference”
Illuminating Art in Nature 2025
The Red Oak Rain Garden Extension Team presents our second annual Illuminating Art in Nature! On October 30, the rain garden welcomes the community in for an autumnal celebration. Location and Parking Information Designed to spark curiosity while highlighting sustainability, this free, family-friendly event brings together imagination and environmental education in a magical setting. CenteredContinueContinue reading “Illuminating Art in Nature 2025”
Looking Back on my RORG Experience: Chantal Korde
This past May, I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I recently got my diploma in the mail, and I am preparing to start a new job and for my whole life to shift on its axis. For the first time ever, I will no longer be a student. In the face ofContinueContinue reading “Looking Back on my RORG Experience: Chantal Korde”
Erin’s Senior Capstone Project: Deucalion’s Garden
The Inspiration When I tell people I recently graduated from the Sustainable Design program at Illinois, their first reaction is often curiosity. I’m frequently asked questions like, “What is Sustainable Design?” or, “How is it different from other design majors?” To me, Sustainable Design is set apart by its focus on solving real-world problems andContinueContinue reading “Erin’s Senior Capstone Project: Deucalion’s Garden”
Lessons from the Ground: A Conversation with Tony Heath, Former RORG Project Engineer
This blog is part of Joe Hinsberger’s ENVS491 course. As part of his assignment and to prepare for the interview, he read a past interview and several blog posts that Tony wrote while serving as construction manager As a civil engineering student, I’ve always been curious about the real-world challenges behind what we study inContinueContinue reading “Lessons from the Ground: A Conversation with Tony Heath, Former RORG Project Engineer”
New Signage Brings Fresh Visibility to RORG
After years of thoughtful planning, the Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) is now home to two new signs thanks to generous support from the American Water Charitable Foundation and the Student Sustainability Committee. An interpretive sign and a sculpture identification plaque not only beautify the space, but also deepen the public’s connection to this high-profile,ContinueContinue reading “New Signage Brings Fresh Visibility to RORG”
Illinois communities make strides to improve stormwater
By Chantal Korde, Stormwater Intern I have always had a passion for sustainability and the natural environment, but as a chemical engineer, I have not always had many chances to work on projects relating to it. That is why I was extremely excited when I got the opportunity to work with the Illinois-Indiana Sea GrantContinueContinue reading “Illinois communities make strides to improve stormwater”
Red Oak Rain Garden 