New green infrastructure amenities are enhancing a Calumet Park street and collecting more stormwater to protect neighbors, thanks to funding from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and partners.

MWRD officials joined Calumet Park Mayor Ronald Denson and village officials and neighbors along with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board of Commissioners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Winchester Avenue Disaster Relief Project recently.

“By growing bioswales and investing in permeable pavement, we can absorb more stormwater and provide a first line of defense before water can enter our traditional gray infrastructure,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “Through these green infrastructure installations, we are more prepared in Calumet Park for the next storm. We applaud Calumet Park and our partners for this important investment.”

 

The MWRD contributed $360,000 toward the construction of a roadside bioswale and permeable pavers in the parking lane of Winchester Avenue, as part of a larger $3.4 million disaster relief project. The street will now reduce flooding in the general area between 124th and 127th streets, between Lincoln and Winchester avenues. The project will also improve area water quality by reducing the current load to the combined sewer system that can be overwhelmed with sanitary sewage and stormwater sharing the same pipes during heavy rains.

“Today we celebrate the completion of the Winchester Avenue disaster recovery project," said Calumet Park Mayor Ronald Denson. "It has been a yeoman’s job with the cooperation of county, state and local officials. My thanks to President Toni Preckwinkle, State Representative Robert Rita, MWRD, CMAP, Robinson Engineering, my staff and elected officials at the Village of Calumet Park for all their hard work and dedication to this grant-funded project. This is the largest grant that the Village has received to date, and we would not have been able to do anything without the grant money received.”

Green infrastructure is a type of stormwater management that uses or mimics natural and biological modes of controlling stormwater to prevent or reduce the flow of water from entering the sewer system.  Instead, the water is stored and slowly soaks into the underlying soil. The Winchester Avenue Green Infrastructure Project will provide an estimated 198,983 gallons of stormwater storage in addition to educating local residents on the benefits of green infrastructure.

“We at the MWRD are committed to the use of green infrastructure to help reduce flooding and the load on our sewer systems,” said MWRD Commissioner Yumeka Brown. “We thank our partners at the Village of Calumet Park, Cook County, and the Illinois EPA for making these important contributions to support community resilience.”

The Winchester Avenue Green Infrastructure Project was selected by the MWRD in its annual call for projects through the MWRD Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. 

The Winchester Avenue Green Infrastructure Project was selected by the MWRD in its annual call for projects through the MWRD Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. 

New green infrastructure improvements along a stretch of Winchester Avenue in Calumet Park are designed to better absorb stormwater and keep it out of local sewers and basements and help improve area water quality.