The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is accepting applications from Cook County individuals and organizations for its 2023 Sustainable Landscaping Awards until August 15. The awards recognize the activities and innovations from entities such as cities and villages, schools, houses of worship, businesses and others.

Qualifications for the Sustainable Landscaping award may be demonstrated through the innovative use of green infrastructure, capital investment (private and public), and public education.

Green infrastructure (GI) includes:

• Rainwater Harvesting, i.e., through rain barrels
• Rain Gardens
• Native Landscaping
• Stormwater Trees
• Porous Pavement
• Bioswales
• Green Roofs
• Greenways
• Wetlands
• Green Alleys, Streets, and Parking Lots

Award categories include:

1. Innovative use of GI
2. Education of residents to promote use of GI on private property
3. Best overall GI installation at a private site
4. Best overall GI installation at a public site.

Activities completed after January 1, 2018, are eligible for an award, and an individual or organization is eligible once every five years. Submittals should include figures, illustrations, a narrative, and photos to help further explain the efforts. The evaluation process may include a site visit.

If you have difficulties using the electronic form, please submit application packages by August 15, 2023, to forea@mwrd.org.

Awards will be presented at the MWRD’s 11th annual Sustainability Summit to be held this fall at the Ford Calumet Environmental Center. This event is open to the public. Registration information and list of presenters will be available soon. 

Sustainability_Summit awards.pdf