Local businesses help historical society

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the fourth year in a row, the partnership between major capital region retailer Kohl’s Department Stores, and Chip’s Landscaping resulted in a new sustainable water feature and gardens at the site of the Saratoga County Historical Society.

A new twist to the annual ‘Go Green’ build: this year, beneficiary, Brookside Museum, will be not only be received a new natural, sustainable water garden on site, but an element for the museum to supplement existing educational programming. The feature will create a sustainable ecosystem to serve as an outdoor history-learning lab. It’s called “Learning and Making History with Green,” says Chips Landscaping Master Gardener, Sue Ann DuBois.

The new water garden complements the historical nature of the grounds. Design includes a pondless waterfall with natural stream, and rainwater harvesting system to capture and reuse rainwater from the extensive Museum roof system. The expansive roof system of this historical structure has the potential to capture over 34,000 gallons of annual precipitation.

A portion of this rainwater will be reused to sustain the water feature with potential to also serve as an irrigation source for perimeter gardens. The gardens will feature native plantings, “nativores” and infusion of historical artifacts within.