Photo by Luciana Minami/City of São Paulo
The Rain Gardens are developed by teams that are already hired by the Municipal Administration to perform other routine services, so there is no need to create a new contract, which facilitates the expansion of the initiative throughout the city.
Considering the importance of the management of water resources, it was necessary to develop an innovative program, focused on the protection of the environment, based on green infrastructure works and Nature-based Solutions.
The creation of this programme stimulates the development of new actions and green works that are cost-effective and to maximise the benefits and efficiency of drainage systems and sustainability, since the gardens are pioneers in the use of recycling concrete removed from the street, use of tree pruning waste to compost the soil, thus improving its quality, and is also used as natural coverage, decreasing the growth of weeds, always seeking to improve the quality of life of the population.
A culture of collaborative work is essential because it helps solve problems efficiently and stimulates innovation. The more integrated, the greater are the chances of achieving good results. In the process of building a Rain Garden, the City of São Paulo relies on:
Execution of the pilot project in the Vila Mariana district planned for Uvaias Street at the corner with Décio Street, in Saúde district. This initiative was part of the Pilot Project for Tree Planting on Sidewalks (PPAC) and was developed based on the collaborative work of the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.