Lake Katherine Nature Center enhances sustainability with MWRD-funded permeable parking lot
A new permeable parking lot at the Lake Katherine Nature Center in Palos Heights will reduce flooding and improve local water quality by capturing more stormwater, thanks in part to a growing Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) initiative.
The project became a reality through the MWRD’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, which supported the efforts of the project partners, the City of Palos Heights and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Through this collaboration, the project includes a new lot with 45 parking spaces, 16 trees, and enough permeable pavers and bioswales to store an estimated 120,000 gallons of stormwater each time it rains. Partners celebrated the completion of the $1.3 million project at a ribbon cutting held on March 25. Watch the ceremony
“Every bioswale, native plant, and tree contributes to climate resilience in Cook County,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “More green alleys, permeable schoolyards, and eco-friendly parking lots—like here at Lake Katherine—help tackle climate change.”
The lot is located at the east end of the Lake Katherine Nature Center, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights, connecting bikers, runners and walkers to the Cal-Sag Trail that is used by approximately 80,000 people each year.
“This new green parking lot at Lake Katherine epitomizes cooperation, collaboration and sustainability and allows this nature center to shine like a gem for Palos Heights and the surrounding southwest suburbs,” said Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz. “We thank Lake Katherine leadership, the MWRD and IDOT for their partnership in delivering this project that will attract more people to Lake Katherine and the Cal-Sag Trail.”
The project not only helps mitigate flooding and protects water quality in the area, but it also demonstrates the benefits of green infrastructure to neighbors and visitors to Lake Katherine. The pavers and bioswales will allow more water to infiltrate into the ground while also filtering out contaminants and increasing the biodiversity of native plants.
“We are so excited that this project has come to fruition. Not only will the trailhead parking lot at Lake Katherine aid in the visitor experience for use of the Cal-Sag bike trail but also other visitors,” said Lake Katherine Director and Chief Naturalist Gareth Blakesley. “The additional money from MWRD allowed this project to be completed in the most ecologically sound way. The combination of permeable pavers, bioswales and native plantings, show how projects can be completed and have a positive environmental impact.”
In addition to treating the region’s wastewater and protecting the quality of our water environment, the MWRD has also served as the regional authority for stormwater management for Cook County the last 20 years. Over that time, more intense rain events have led to catastrophic flooding and new challenges to protect water quality. To meet these new challenges brought on by climate change, the MWRD has elevated its presence throughout Cook County. In fact, since 2014, when the Illinois General Assembly authorized the MWRD to partner on local stormwater management projects, the MWRD has invested in, worked on, or completed nearly 260 flood control projects benefiting more than 19,000 structures. That includes more than 130 green infrastructure projects.
“This project is a great example of how innovative green infrastructure can make a real difference in our communities,” said MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn. “By capturing stormwater where it falls, we’re reducing flooding, improving water quality, and enhancing public spaces for residents and visitors alike.”
The real estate where the project is located is owned by the MWRD and leased to the City of Palos Heights. In September 2023, the MWRD Board of Commissioners authorized a new long-term lease with Palos Heights for the continued use of the 82-acre site at Lake Katherine, located on the south bank of the Cal-Sag Channel in Palos Heights. The MWRD prioritizes public access and recreational opportunities in its leasing program; many other governmental agencies, such as park districts, municipalities, and forest preserve districts, lease MWRD real estate along the waterways for parks, trails, and other open space uses.
