Rain barrels help keep combined sewer overflow and pollution out of fresh waterways like Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, and give us free rain water for gardens and yard care.
Cleveland Institute of Art graduate, Linda Zolten Wood was inspired to make these big plastic chunks more beautiful by applying her mural and theater set painting skills to improve overall acceptance of these water conservation containers to create The Collinwood Painted Rain Barrel Project in 2012.
A Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Neighborhood Connections, Community Partnership for Arts and Culture Grantee, Zolten Wood wanted Cleveland's efforts of water conservation to be celebrated, as 400 free plain barrels a year have been provided by the city to residents for the last ten+ years.
Zolten Wood's education outreach project has been brought into regional schools, libraries, community centers, garden clubs and farmers markets for programs to help communities beautify their gardens and homes with painted rain barrels and to reduce plastic waste with upcycled children's crafts to accompany her events.
Storm water mitigation benefits our fresh waterways, wildlife and drinking water processing resources.