Annual Rain Barrel Auction Set for April 26th

Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced the continuation of a fun and unique partnership that will improve water quality while conserving natural resources. For the third year in a row, the City Engineer’s Storm Water Management Program is partnering with Coca-Cola Company to present the “Dasani – Every Drop Counts” Rain Barrel Auction.

Coca-Cola is donating 55-gallon plastic drums at no cost to residents, groups, organizations, students, and families to paint, decorate and convert into rain barrels. The barrels can be used to collect rainwater, which can be stored for later use to irrigate gardens and lawns.

Rain barrels will be available for pick-up on Saturday, March 8, at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden at the Bement Avenue entrance from 8 a.m. to noon. Beautified barrels will be brought back to Mesker Zoo and offered for sale at a silent auction from 8 a.m. to noon during the “Party for the Planet” Earth Day event on Saturday, April 29. All proceeds from the auction of each rain barrel will go to the group which decorated the barrel.

Corporations and businesses are encouraged to get involved by sponsoring the rain barrels to cover the cost of the adapter kits. To sponsor a rain barrel, or request one to decorate, please contact Stormwater Coordinator Karan Barnhill at kbarnhill@evansville.in.gov or call 812-436-4977.

On Thursday, March 20, at 1 p.m., Mayor Winnecke will visit Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden to meet a few participants in this year Rain Barrel Project and view their decorated rain barrels.