Urban areas are increasingly grappling with the challenges posed by stormwater runoff. Heavy rainfall often overwhelms traditional drainage systems, leading to flooding, water pollution, and significant damage to infrastructure. This is where the concept of a "Rain Park" comes into play—a multifunctional green space designed to address these pressing urban issues.
A Rain Park, also known as a rain garden or stormwater park, is a landscaped area specifically engineered to capture, manage, and utilise stormwater runoff. These parks are strategically located in urban settings to intercept rainwater, allowing it to percolate into the ground rather than rushing into storm drains. The core of a Rain Park comprises permeable soil layers and native vegetation, which work together to filter pollutants, reduce runoff speed, and promote groundwater recharge.
The functioning of a Rain Park is elegantly simple yet highly effective. When it rains, water flows into these parks from surrounding impervious surfaces like roads and rooftops. The water is then absorbed by the soil and taken up by plants, which helps to filter out contaminants such as oil, heavy metals, and debris. Any excess water gradually infiltrates deeper into the ground, replenishing local aquifers and reducing the burden on municipal drainage systems.
As cities continue to expand and impermeable surfaces increase, the risks associated with stormwater runoff become more pronounced. Rain Parks offer a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing solution to these issues. By incorporating these green spaces into urban planning, cities can mitigate flooding, enhance water quality, and create recreational areas that improve the quality of life for residents.
Moreover, Rain Parks play a crucial role in the broader context of climate resilience. They help cities adapt to the increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall events brought about by climate change. By reducing the urban heat island effect and supporting biodiversity, these parks also contribute to a healthier urban ecosystem. In essence, Rain Parks are a vital component of forward-thinking urban design, providing both environmental and social benefits.
Engineering consultancy famous for 'Blue-Green Infrastructure' projects in Copenhagen and globally to manage cloudbursts.
A landscape architecture firm led by Kongjian Yu, pioneering the 'Sponge City' concept to manage urban floods.
Netherlands · Company
Urban design firm that created the Water Square Benthemplein in Rotterdam, a multifunctional stormwater park.
PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency
Singapore · Government Agency
Manages Singapore's water supply and drainage, implementing the 'Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters' (ABC Waters) programme.
Nature-based design studio known for 'The Soul of Nørrebro', a city park designed to handle cloudbursts.
Global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets.
Arup
United Kingdom · Company
A multinational professional services firm dedicated to sustainable development, known for pioneering the use of BIM in complex engineering projects.
Denmark · Company
Architecture firm integrating climate adaptation landscapes and blue-green infrastructure into urban planning.
United States · Government Agency
Runs the 'Green City, Clean Waters' program, a 25-year plan to manage stormwater primarily through green infrastructure.
United States · Nonprofit
Global environmental nonprofit advocating for and implementing nature-based solutions for stormwater.
Paper
Effectiveness of Rain Gardens for Managing Non-Point Source Pollution from Urban Surface Storm Water Runoff in Eastern Texas, USASustainability · May 18, 2025
Investigates the effectiveness of rain gardens in mitigating non-point source pollution in urban runoff, a key environmental benefit of the Rain Park technology.
Article
Urban stormwater management for sustainable and resilient measures and practices: a reviewiwaponline.com
Stormwater drainage in urban areas has become a challenge due to the rapid and random growth of urban areas, removal of vegetation, reduction in the effectiveness of drainage infrastructure, and climate change. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Low Impact Development (LID), Best Management Practices (BMP), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and the Sponge City Programme (SCP) are various aspects for urban stormwater management in a few parts of the world. Urban hydrology plays a vital role in the urban stormwater management system. However, optimal results can only be possible when the combined effect of climate change, land use patterns, reuse, treatment, ecology, and societal aspects are considered. There is a need to provide sustainable and resilient urban drainage systems to manage stormwater more efficiently. The present review has thoroughly discussed various features related to urban stormwater management, highlighted key drivers, identified knowledge gaps in each of the measures and/or practices, recommended future research needs of urban stormwater management to become sustainable and resilient. Integrated modelling approaches considering various key drivers including reuse and real time governance enables stormwater management to be sustainable and resilient in urban environments.
Article
Building a Climate-Resilient City: Urban ecosystemsweadapt.org
This policy brief looks at how cities can approach urban ecosystems in their municipal adaptation plans to build their resilience to climate change impacts.
Article
Powering resilient urban environments through public spacesurbanresiliencehub.org
Public spaces shape how we live. They can also become a driving force for inequality. When public spaces are taken from cars and given back to people, they reach their full potential to provide better accessibility to green spaces and good air quality. They become places where people stay active and connect, economies flourish, and creativity flows. Public spaces planned with a people-centred approach enable inhabitants to feel healthy, secure and part of a community.
Article
Parks as a Solution to Climate Changenrpa.org
Creating healthy, prepared communities with climate-smart parks Climate change has emerged as the world’s most critical environmental issue, as well as one of the most pressing social, economic and health challenges of our time. While it is a global issue, its impacts are felt most acutely at the local level. From families that are displaced by flooding to elderly grandparents who are hospitalized because of health complications from extreme heat, the impacts of climate change are very real and very personal.
Article
Design for flooding: how cities can make room for watertheconversation.com
Science is clearly showing that the world is shifting towards a more unstable climate. Weather events like the flash floods in Sydney last week will be more frequent and extreme, while the intervals between them will become shorter. With rising sea levels and frequent floods, water landscapes will become part of our urban routine.
Article
WHY WE NEED TO RESTORE FLOODPLAINSamericanrivers.org
FLOODS CAN BE INCONVENIENT. LARGE FLOODS CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DISASTROUS.
Article
Bangkok is sinking. Here's how a new park can protect the city from floodingweforum.org
This year has seen extreme weather conditions wreak havoc across the globe, from record-breaking temperatures to heavy rain causing major floods.
Article
What would an entirely flood-proof city look like?theguardian.com
The wetter the better. From sponge cities in China to ‘berms with benefits’ in New Jersey and floating container classrooms in the slums of Dhaka, we look at a range of projects that treat storm water as a resource rather than a hazard
