Logan Middle School rain garden earns recognition from La Crosse Area Waters

LA CROSSE (WKBT) — Logan Middle School students received recognition for their environmental stewardship efforts when La Crosse Area Waters named the school its 2025 Featured Property.

The honor recognizes the school’s 740-square-foot rain garden, which captures and filters storm water runoff. Students planted the garden last year as part of an environmental education initiative.

“This is a great honor and it recognizes all the hard work our students and community has done in the past many years,” said Timothy Sprain, a seventh-grade teacher at Logan Middle School.

The rain garden represents a practical approach to managing polluted runoff while engaging students in hands-on environmental learning. The project caught the attention of local environmental organizations for its educational value and environmental impact.

“We noticed they were implementing rain gardens, and berms, and swales being able to capture polluted runoff in a really simple way. And involving the kids in every step of the way. So it was a no brainer to honor them with a sign and recognition,” said Amy Smith, sustainability director for Habitat for Humanity.

The garden was developed through a partnership with Renew the Block, a community organization focused on neighborhood improvement projects. Funding for the initiative came from the Youth Climate Action Fund, which supports youth-led environmental projects.