Low cost solution to diverting yard flooding in heavy downpours?

Please give us more details - maybe a picture or two? Will you be diverting excess flood water to a street or neighbor? Lowest cost that I can think of - sand bags.

I like the plexiglass idea - and I know that Home Depot carries ceiling tiles made of very thin metal 15x15 inches and very easy to apply in various patterns. Hope that helps

Might a dry river bed work? The possibilities are endless...

French drain---dig a trench, put rocks in the bottom, lay pipe that has been riddled with holes (you can also buy already drilled pipe) cover with additional rocks, cover the top with soil. Rain water will enter through the holes, will drain wherever you ended the pipe. Just make sure it leads away from your home. I live in Florida, lots of rain, we use French drains all over our HOA grounds.