MWRD prioritizes green infrastructure projects in 2018

Parks, forest preserves, municipalities, a university, a nature center, and several alleys and parking lots across Cook County will benefit from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) funding in 2018. All of these projects will feature Green infrastructure (GI) enhancements to better manage stormwater.

Projects selected for funding met several criteria: they are in flood-prone areas; they are in areas new to MWRD GI funding; they have a high rate of ground infiltration in which stormwater is prevented from entering the local sewer system; they provide educational opportunities for residents to learn about GI practices; the applicant demonstrated the ability to operate and maintain the GI practices; and they showed an appropriate cost-benefit ratio…Please click here to read MWRD’s press release.

Selected Southland projects  include:

Village of Calumet Park – introducing a detention pond, bioswales, permeable pavement and rain gardens as part of the Winchester Avenue improvements.

Village of Midlothian – installing permeable pavement, bioswales and a rain garden at the Midlothian parking lot, as part of a GI demonstration project.

Village of Orland Park Village Hall – building a green roof on the Orland Park Village Hall.

Village of Orland Park Nature Center – installing permeable pavers, a limestone trail, naturalized plantings, and detention/wetland improvements.

Village of Posen – installing a rain garden and permeable parking lot as part of Posen Goes Green.