MWRD launches stormwater workshop series to strengthen community engagement

MWRD engineers hosted a Stormwater Workshop, bringing local government officials together for one-on-one conversations about stormwater priorities and challenges across Cook County. In one example, Principal Civil Engineer Justin Kirk (right) and Senior Civil Engineer Pedro Ortiz (second from right) meet with representatives of the village of Summit.

With a focus on strengthening relationships with local communities and better understanding their stormwater management needs, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) hosted its first in a series of stormwater workshops on Aug. 26 at the Lake Katherine Nature Center in Palos Heights.

The workshop marked the launch of a new MWRD initiative aimed at strengthening community engagement and outreach pertaining to stormwater management while complementing the MWRD’s existing Watershed Planning Council meetings. Through these workshops municipal officials can meet directly with MWRD engineers to discuss current and future stormwater projects, share local priorities and explore opportunities for collaboration.

“By connecting with the communities we serve, we can broaden our impact to address stormwater management issues,” MWRD President Kari K. Steele said. “These workshops give us an opportunity to listen, learn from our municipal partners and work together to identify solutions that can help communities become more resilient.”

MWRD Senior Civil Engineer Mark Castillo and members of the MWRD Engineering Department led presentations and discussions during the inaugural workshop while staff from the MWRD Environmental Justice Section helped recruit communities to participate. Municipal officials met individually with MWRD engineers to discuss local stormwater management challenges and priorities and toured the Lake Katherine permeable parking lot with Palos Heights City Administrator Adam Jasinski.

Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz, Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters and Alsip Mayor John Ryan attended the workshop, along with staff and representatives from Oak Forest, Burr Ridge, Olympia Fields, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills, South Holland, Blue Island, Summit, Orland Park, Chicago Heights and Evergreen Park.

The MWRD will host two additional Stormwater Workshops as part of this inaugural series, with sessions scheduled for Sept. 2 in North Riverside and Sept. 10 in Mount Prospect. Municipal officials interested in discussing stormwater management priorities are encouraged to participate. Register for the Sept. 2 workshop at eventbrite.com, and register for the Sept. 10 workshop here eventbrite.com/.

*MWRD Senior Civil Engineer Mark Castillo addresses the audience at the Lake Katherine Nature Center in Palos Heights.*

Palos Heights City Administrator Adam Jasinski highlights the permeable parking lot at the Lake Katherine Nature Center. The green lot was partially funded through the MWRD’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program.

*MWRD engineers provide an opportunity to listen, share ideas, and explore opportunities for future collaboration to help communities address stormwater concerns.*

Press Release

Stormwater