A rain garden is a shallow basin planted with deep-rooted native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs that filter and absorb stormwater runoff and the pollutants it carries. Extensive root systems remove nutrients, sediments, and pollutants before runoff enters groundwater and waterways. Native plants, which were present prior to European settlement, are well adapted to local conditions and require very little care once established. They help prevent erosion, improve water quality, and provide essential food and habitat for local wildlife, with seeds and nectar that support birds, butterflies, and other insects. This rain garden filters storm water from the adjacent athletic field, improving water quality, slowing the release of water, and reducing the amount sent to the local wastewater treatment plant.