Rigler Elementary Stormwater Retrofit Project

Rigler Elementary: Nature Play & Stormwater Retrofit
Completed: Summer 2025

Location: Portland, OR

Partners: Juncus Studio, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, DePave, Portland Public Schools, and the Cully Area community

We are thrilled to share one of our most impactful community transformations to date: the reimagined Rigler Elementary schoolyard.

Serving as the primary contractor, Grasstains helped bring the Rigler Schoolyard Vision Plan to life. We turned an expansive, heat-trapping asphalt lot into a dynamic, high-performance landscape where active play, creative discovery, and environmental stewardship intersect.

This initiative is a flagship example of the RISE (Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Education) Schoolyard program created by Dave Elkin of Juncus Studio, and its innovative design recently earned recognition from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Project Highlights
Engineered Stormwater Swales: We replaced heavily paved areas with natural swales designed to capture and filter pollutants on-site. This critical green infrastructure diverts runoff from Portland’s overwhelmed sewer system, directly protecting the health of our local rivers.

Permeable Walking Track: We installed a high-performance, porous asphalt track that supports student fitness while actively managing heavy rainwater runoff.

Upgraded Active Play Zones: The playground received a major upgrade with a modern swing set area, plus brand-new tetherball and four-square courts.

Native Landscaping & Canopy: With trees provided by Portland Urban Forestry, we integrated extensive native plantings that shade classrooms, cool the play areas, and boost local biodiversity.

"More than just a construction project, this was a true community effort. Rigler students actually got their hands dirty alongside us, directly participating in the depaving process and planting native species to take ownership of their new schoolyard."