SOAK IT UP! Completion Celebration

Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area ReStore to Hold Celebration Event

 

La Crosse, Wisconsin (February 15,2016) – Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area (HFHLCA) is pleased to invite the community to celebrate the completion of the storm water diversion project, Soak it Up!, on Saturday, April 23 from 9am to 3pm at the Habitat ReStore located at 3181 Berlin Drive, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Celebration Events:

• ReStore Earth Day Challenge – Judging at 1pm
• Unveiling of Sculpture designed by Karl Unnasch – Noon
• 10% Off ReStore Purchases – All Day
• BBQ Sale, by “Beauties Banging Boards” Women Build Team – 10am Start

Community members are invited to take part in the ReStore Earth Day Challenge to breathe new life in old items by repurposing them as either a new functional or artistic item. Pieces will be displayed at the ReStore on the day of the event, and ReStore gift certificates will be awarded to the best entries.  For more information or to register for the ReStore Earth Day Challenge, please visit:www.habitatlacrosse.org/earth-day-restore-challenge/.

A sculpture designed and completed by Driftless region artist Karl Unnasch with assistance from Western Technical College students will be unveiled at the event. The public art is made from repurposed materials from Habitat ReStore and ties together the mission of Habitat for Humanity with the values of storm water diversion and reuse.

The Soak it Up! project includes four biofilters, 700 native plants, regrading to improve water flow and retention, a hugelkultur swale, a rain barrel, naturalized drainage area, food-bearing trees and shrubs, raised garden beds, a teak bench under every tree, a break area for employees, and erosion control products including pervious pavement. The site also includes 10 teaching signs explaining each landscape feature and the positive impacts of these kinds of local actions.

This project was developed by the La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group and HFHLCA with the support of many community partners including design and construction partners: Coulee Region Ecoscapes LLC, Driftless Trails Contracting LLC, NewGround, Inc., Paragon Associates LLC, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College.

Special thanks go to La Crosse Community Foundation, Paul E. Stry Foundation, and Sonnentag Foundation/County Materials Corporation for granting funds for construction and to Coulee Region Ecoscapes LLC, Invisible Structures, Inc., Prairie Nursery, and Trees Today for their donation of products.