MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the center of Park Lake Road and Burcham Drive, there is a roundabout where a small garden lies. However, this is not a typical garden, but rather is a hidden river rain garden.

Throughout Meridian Township, these rain gardens provide a way for the community to come together to restore, replenish and revitalize the environment and natural area.

According to Meridian Township Recycling and Energy Coordinator LeRoy Harvey, the entire Township was once entirely a rain garden, as a swamp.

In these rain gardens, the native plants absorb water, the clean water reduce runoff and restores the environment.

Many resident came together to develop this project, and make the Park Lake Road and Burcham Drive roundabout what it is today.

Ethel Anthony is one resident who supports the development and continues to donate her time and energy to maintaining the garden.

"I did not know what a rain garden is, but I thought if someone is putting this together, and comes up with this idea and knows somebody (a landscape person) who can do it all...wonderful," Anthony said.

Anthony said she had a part in beautifying the garden. Anthony, as well as many other residents, stop by to help with the keep up.