What is a Rain Garden? 

There are many misconceptions about what a rain garden is. This one page article explains briefly what a rain garden is and isn’t.  Article: What Is -vs- What Isn’t a Rain Garden

About the Program

The “Make It Rain” program was created by Medina SWCD in 2024 to financially provide assistance to people who want to install a rain garden. Qualified Medina County homeowners can be reimbursed $250 for completing the program, where they design and install their rain garden properly, following Medina SWCD’s guidance. Watch this short video about the program. 

What is the goal?

The goal is to get more green infrastructure built in Medina County. Capturing rain water protects local streams and land. Excess stormwater can cause many problems like erosion, pollution, flooding, fish kills, algal blooms, and more. This program aims to get 10 rain gardens installed yearly in the county to limit the amount of stormwater that would become runoff. 

Who can participate
To Apply
Details, Dates
Bad factors
Good factors
Requirements to participate:
  • Must be a homeowner in Medina County.
  • Must be willing to install a rain garden sign at the end of the installation. 
  • Must be willing to have photos of the rain garden shared on Medina SWCD’s social media.
To Apply: 
  1. Make sure you meet the requirements above.
  2. Review the program details below.
    • Make sure you’re willing to follow the steps to complete the program.  
  3. Contact Medina SWCD to set up a site visit with staff to:
    • Visit your property to inspect desired location
    • Go through a checklist of different factors
    • Have your location ranked for eligibility
    • Deadline for APPLYING is Friday November 21, 2025.
    • In December, the top 10 ranked applications will qualify for the program

After reading this page, to apply call 330-722-9322 and ask for Abby or Eric. 

Program Details: 

To be eligible for $250 in reimbursement, these steps must be followed. 

  1. Before November 21st, 2025: Apply and set up site visit.
  2. December 2025:  Applicants will be notified of if they qualified.
  3. January 2026:  Get trained:
    • In January, the 10 qualified homeowners will attend either an in-person or digital training about how to properly install a rain garden. 
    • Medina SWCD staff can assist with pre-construction questions that remain. 
  4. Spring 2026: Begin installing your rain garden:
    • Call 811 before you dig.
      • Keep reference or ticket number. 
    • Test your soil’s drainage (instructions provided).
    • Size your garden.
    • Amend soils as needed.
    • Plant 50%-100% native plants.
    • Take photos throughout these steps. 
  5. Create seasonal maintenance plan. 
  6. In June 2026:  Set up Inspection:
    • Get rain garden inspected by SWCD staff.
    • Make adjustments if needed.
    • Give yourself time to make adjustments and for a second inspection.
      • The deadline to complete your garden is July 2nd.
  7. Install SWCD provided rain garden sign.
  8. Get SWCD staff approval for completion.
    • DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION: JULY 10, 2026
  9. Receive $250 reimbursement.
    • Checks will be mailed out at the end of July, after the July Medina SWCD board meeting.
    • If a rain garden is not completed and signed off by SWCD by July 10th, the participating homeowner will not receive a reimbursement check. 
Disqualifying factors: 

Some properties may not be suited for a rain garden. When staff come out for the initial site visit, they can determine if you are disqualified due to a property’s physical limitations. Some examples include if the rain garden would be too close to a building’s foundation or would be hard to install due to tree roots. 

High ranking factors: 

These are a few factors that could help you rank higher and make you more likely to be chosen: 

  • Installing a rain garden in the front yard.
  • Having a downspout provide the rain garden’s water source.
  • Having a roof of 200 square feet or larger drain to the rain garden.
  • Living within Champion Creek’s watershed.
    • This stream is Medina City’s hardest hit stream from development.
    • Installing a rain garden in this area could be of great environmental benefit. 
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