In 2024, Sustainable Princeton was awarded a $12,741 grant from the HDR Foundation to support the construction and installation of galvanized-steel downspout planters filled with native plants in neighborhoods across Princeton.
This project helps Sustainable Princeton fulfill two of its strategic focus areas – increasing community resilience to climate change and protecting the local ecosystem. As climate change brings more extreme flooding events, the downspout planters, filled with native, pollinator-friendly plants, will help collect stormwater runoff and help reduce flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Construction of the downspout planters involved several months of labor by Sustainable Princeton team members, HDR volunteers, and community members. It was truly a team effort.
“I’m very interested in native plants and creating gardens that work with the environment, so learning about the downspout planter project was intriguing! Getting to use my hands to create something for the community was very satisfying, and installing the planters and talking to community members about the project was wonderful. Plus, it was awesome doing the construction with Elana, Lisa, Madeline, and Christine from Sustainable Princeton!” – HDR Foundation Volunteer, Anne Ullestad
As of now, 15 downspout planters have been installed, with plans for five more installations in 2026. Planters were installed at homes located within the Witherspoon Jackson Neighborhood, Princeton Community Housing’s Princeton Community Village and Elm Court, Griggs Farm, The Farminary, Princeton Housing Authority’s Spruce Circle, Princeton’s Recreation Department office, and at a property managed by Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP).
“I was looking for a way to use the water runoff from my roof and not just have it drain off. The downspout planter that Sustainable Princeton provided and installed for us is not only beautiful, but it is also providing natural water for a number of native plants and trees that I have recently put in near the downspout planter. In addition to the Northern blue flag iris and the black-eyed Susans in the planter, I am also now able to provide my new sassafras and willow trees, spice bushes, red chokeberry, and sensitive ferns with a natural source of water that would otherwise end up as drainage. I am looking forward to this little ecosystem providing homes and sustenance to many native insects and pollinators instead of just being a drainage problem.” – Homeowner and downspout planter recipient, Joe Gessner
Downspout planters are plant boxes installed at the base of a gutter downspout. They allow stormwater from gutters to flow through and be absorbed by vegetation. The system temporarily stores runoff and filters sediment and pollutants as water infiltrates through the planter. These systems typically consist of gravel, soil, plants, and connect to the roof downspout. They are normally waterproof, and the bottom of the planter is usually impervious, so as not to infiltrate runoff into the ground. Rather, they rely on evapotranspiration and short-term storage to manage stormwater. Excess water may overflow into the existing downspout connection.
The downspout planters Sustainable Princeton built and installed can retain roughly 100 gallons of stormwater each. The native plant species selected do well in planters, so the property owners won’t have to do much to maintain them once they are established.
Sustainable Princeton continues to gauge interest from the community for additional locations that would benefit from a downspout planter. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to info@sustainableprinceton.org – please note that the remaining downspout planters will be provided on a needs basis.