2023 Sustainable Landscaping Award Application

Thank you for your interest in applying for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) 2023 “Sustainable Landscaping” awards. 

The MWRD is accepting applications from Cook County individuals, organizations and businesses.

The awards recognize the activities and innovations from entities, such as cities and villages, schools, houses of worship, businesses and others. 

Award Categories

  • Innovative use of GI
  • Education of residents to promote use of GI on private property
  • Best overall GI installation at a private site
  • Best overall GI installation at a public site. 

Qualifications

Qualifications for the Sustainable Landscaping awards may be demonstrated through the innovative use of green infrastructure, capital investment and other sustainable practices in the environment that manages stormwater or educational efforts for promoting green landscaping to the community. For the purpose of the awards, green infrastructure 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

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.

Apply now

The award application is below and includes directions on submitting your application.

The award will be presented at the MWRD’s 11th Annual Sustainability Summit to be held this fall at the Ford Calumet Environmental Center - Big Marsh Park, 11555 S. Stony Island Ave. Chicago, IL on Tuesday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. You will be contacted if you are selected for an award. 

Please click here to register for the Sustainability Summit.

For more information about the award or Sustainability Summit, contact the Office of Public Affairs at public.affairs@mwrd.org. Please include "Sustainability Summit 2023" in the subject line, or call (312) 751-6633.

Click here for information on previous Sustainability Summits.