Africatown Heritage House Bioswale, Garden Open

The Africatown Heritage House Bioswale, a learning laboratory for the Mobile County Training School’s students and teachers, was dedicated in an instructional ceremony on August 11. Birmingham-Southern College’s Southern Environmental Center built the bioswale for beautification and as a learning space for students and teachers at the nearby Mobile County Training School. The goal of the bioswale is to demonstrate the power of plants for multiple uses, including erosion control and mitigation of pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Additionally, the Africatown Heritage House Memorial Garden, also built by the Southern Environmental Center, teaches about the use of plants for food and medicine. The bioswale is located between Africatown Heritage House and the Robert L. Hope Community Center. Signage at the plantings ensure that any visitors can learn about them and their environmental benefits. Dr. Roald Hazelhoff, director of the Southern Environmental Center, said, “In addition to serving as an outdoor classroom, the Rain Garden will also serve as a public attraction for visitors to the Africatown Heritage House and local residents.”