Biddle Building Gardens

800 S. Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Construction of the Rain Garden

The historic Biddle Building at 800 S. Braddock Ave. next to the Frick Park Red Clay Tennis Courts had a remarkable facelif in 2011. New gutters were installed this spring by the city Department of Public Works, which allowed the installation of a brick red rain barrel in conjunction with the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association rain barrel initiative.

A rain barrel will reduce the amount of water rushing into Nine Mile Run during a rainstorm. Instead flowing over hard surfaces such as roads and driveways, picking up pollutants, and flooding and eroding Nine Mile Run, the water can slowly soak through the soil and into the water table, being cleansed by soils and plants along the way.

On September 24, 2011, a rain garden was added to the front of the Biddle Building on Braddock Avenue in Regent Square. A rain garden is a simple form of green infrastructure that directs rainwater from the roof of the building into an area planted with native plants. Designed to absorb excess stormwater, rain gardens are a beautiful, simple, and cost effective way to reduce the negative effects of runoff into Nine Mile Run. A rain barrel will also be installed to collect additional runoff and provide water for other Biddle Building plantings. The project is a joint effort of the Regent Square Civic Association, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association and the Frick Park Clay Court Tennis Club. Additional support will come from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works.

Click to enlarge

Sustainable Garden

In October, Kelly Ogrodnik, who is Sustainable Design and Programs Manager from Phipps Conservatory, heard about the improvements and offered to restore the garden next to the Biddle Building to highlight their sustainable plants initiative. “As part of Phipps' mission dedicated to sustainable landscapes and outreach in the community, we've designed the Biddle Building's garden with Phipps' Top 10 Sustainable Plants. At Phipps, we believe that good gardening practices begins with smart plant selection.

Once established, these Top 10 Sustainable Plants require minimal maintenance, water, and fertilizer needs, and are disease and pest resistant,” Ogrodnik said. Planting was done in October with Ogrodnik and tennis players from the Frick Park Clay Courts Tennis Club.

The plants in Biddle Building Substainable Garden are listed below. Signs in the garden itself label each variety of the chosen plants.

Organizational Support

• Nine Mile Run Watershed Association
• Regent Square Civic Association
• Phipps Conservatory
• Frick Park Clay Courts Tennis Club
• 3 Rivers Wet Weather
• Stormworks
• Pittsburgh Department of Public Works