Established in 2014, MWRDGC’s Green Infrastructure Program seeks to increase the acceptance and investment of green infrastructure throughout Cook County through numerous partnerships. They introduced the green infrastructure call for projects, which seeks to partner with local communities and public agencies throughout Cook County to fund and build green infrastructure projects. These projects vary in size and scope and can include roadside bioswales and rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement alleys, green streetscapes, and eco-orchards. It is available to government organizations within MWRDGC’s corporate boundaries. Projects are prioritized on their ability to capture and store water (measured as design retention capacity), flood risk, and structures benefitted by the green infrastructure amongst other criteria. MWRDGC and a partnering agency execute an intergovernmental agreement to facilitate the project, with long term maintenance responsibilities assigned to the partnering agency. Design and construction of each installation are monitored to optimize benefits. After completion, staff inspect the installation, ensuring maintenance is in line with the project’s operation and maintenance plan.
In 2017 and 2018, 40 projects were selected. In June of 2019, a third call for projects was held and an additional 20 more projects were selected. The projects selected over the last three years will providea total of approximately 6 million gallons of design retention capacity. The Arlington Heights, River Forest, Skokie, and Wheeling Park District projects were completed in 2018, providing 205,453 gallons of design retention capacity for an investment of $694,000. In 2019, the MWRDGC worked with the City of Des Plaines and the Villages of Forest Park, Harwood Heights, La Grange, Maywood, Riverside and Tinley Park to develop GI projects consisting of permeable pavement parking, green alleys, and bio-retention facilities. MWRDGC will contribute up to $2,935,034 to these projects, which provided a combined design retention capacity of 1,109,170 gallons. In June of 2020, another call for projects was issued and an additional 16 were selected.
MWRDGC also helps support Space to Grow, an innovative public-private partnership with a mission of transforming Chicago schoolyards into vibrant green spaces for physical activity, outdoor learning and play. The schoolyards incorporate many green infrastructure design elements to reduce water pollution and neighborhood flooding such as permeable play surfaces, native plantings, and rain gardens. The program is co-managed by the Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands with capital funding, leadership, and expertise from MWRDGC, Chicago Public Schools, and the City of Chicago Department of Water Management. MWRDGC also provides technical support for green infrastructure elements to ensure that the new schoolyards provide optimal stormwater capture benefits.
Space to Grow schools are prioritized based on flood risk, site suitability, and socioeconomic factors. Numerous community meetings were held to describe project details and benefits. MWRDGC and Chicago Public Schools executed an intergovernmental agreement to facilitate the projects whereby long-term maintenance responsibilities are assigned to Chicago Public Schools.
Since 2014, MWRDGC has invested in 20 schools, providing 3.65 million gallons of design retention capacity. The program was amended to continue through 2022, funding green infrastructure at up to 34 schools for a total investment of approximately $18 million. Construction was completed at five schools in 2020. Another five projects have been designed with construction anticipated in early 2021.
See mwrd.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020_Stormwater_Report_210723.pdf and mwrd.org/services/green-infrastructure for more information.
