A rain garden is a sunken garden (4-8in deep) planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses designed to capture, absorb and naturally filter stormwater. The Princess Point rain garden was installed in 2014 by Bay Area Restoration Council volunteers, in partnership with the Royal Botanical Gardens. During heavy rainfalls and after seasonal snowmelts this garden collects stormwater from the parking lot and filters pollutants that would otherwise enter Cootes Paradise. Water that enters the garden slowly infiltrates into the ground. In addition to reducing stormwater runoff and downstream erosion and improving water quality, the garden provides food and habitat for a variety of butterflies, birds and other wildlife.