In addition to providing healthier, safer and more inspiring outdoor spaces for students, these projects will help manage stormwater in neighborhoods that face frequent flooding.

These reaffirmations underscore the rating agencies’ ongoing confidence in the MWRD’s financial management, operational stability and commitment to maintaining long-term fiscal responsibility while protecting the region’s water environment.

MWRD commissioners, staff, local leaders and environmental experts exchanged strategies and success stories that focused on climate resilience, infrastructure improvements and community engagement.

Board meetings are open to the public and can be streamed online.

Presentation topics at the workshop covered the MWRD’s stormwater management partnership programs, state emergency coordination framework, public health and community resilience, flood insurance coverage and consumer protections.

The project was the result of a partnership between the forest preserve district and the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup. The funds for the roughly $9.5 million cost were raised from local wastewater treatment entities, including the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.