Rain barrel exhibit is both festive and educational

Each summer for the past several years, the sidewalks of downtown La Grange and the West End business district have become a festive canvas for colorful objects of art through a program spearheaded by the La Grange Business Association.

With a different theme each year, visitors have been treated to a circus melange, a herd of elephants, easeled portraits and slat-seat Adirondack chairs (which are wistfully recalled by those who enjoyed the opportunity to sit comfortably and watch the passing parade.)

This summer's offering is rain barrels.

Despite their nearly uniform size and shape, each of the 72 barrels has been uniquely decorated, often whimsically, by various local artists. Each also is sponsored by a local business or organization.

The barrels will be sold at auction Sept. 10 with the proceeds benefiting Pets & Pals Charities, organizers of the annual La Grange Pet Parade.

What most sets this year's exhibit of years apart from those of past years is that the rain barrels also impart an educational message, specifically about the benefits of water conservation.

Watch the short video below to learn more about the rain barrels, and meet the La Grange resident who came up with the theme.

Comments

[Chris Walsh]

These look like great barrels. The only feature they lack is a connector at the bottom to gang multiple barrels together for greater capacity, which is likely to be of interest only to a minority of barrel users.

A nearby resource which provides good-quality barrels at a reasonable price is (believe it or not) the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

A 55 gal barrel is $50. I have been extremely pleased with the one I purchased a couple years ago. It is better than the one I made myself out of a scrap barrel, and cost maybe $10 more, excluding my time.

Details on the MWRD program are at:

http://www.mwrd.org/irj/portal/anonymous/rainbarrel

(this may have been mentioned in the vid, which I have not watched)

[SJc]

We upgraded and retrofitted the overflow port - the one that comes with is way too small! We got the part from www.aquabarrel.com

[Linda Christianson]

Hey Thom,
Thanks for all the good rain barrel info!

[Jenny Hall]

Actually, these barrels do have a connector (about 2/3 the way up), so multiple barrels can be connected. I bought one last summer and love it!

[rain barrels]

What a great idea! I have seen the painted horses and other works of art in so many cities, but now it's a work of art that is actually functional- and you're bringing awareness to the community of the importance of rain water conservation.

I do love that coke can one!!

Rain Tank Depot
http://www.raintankdepot.com

[Judy Bloecks]

The rainbarrels look very nice. I don't like the fact that some people are so dumb and use them as garbage cans. I told one gentlemen when I was out walking the other day that tried to throw garbage in there that it wasn't a garbage can.

Judy Bloecks