The American Public Works Association (APWA) Suburban Branch is set to honor publics work improvements at its annual luncheon, and among them are two stormwater management projects that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) supported through local partners, according to a press release by MWRD.
The Levee 37 Interior Drainage Stormwater Improvement project, completed by the Village of Mount Prospect, and the 2022 Green Alleys Program, completed by the Village of Skokie, were both announced as winners to be recognized at the APWA Suburban Branch’s annual Awards Luncheon on Jan. 25 at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Schaumburg. Both awards were recognized in the APWA’s Environment category. The Mount Prospect award was honored among larger projects between $5 and $25 million, while the Skokie project was in the $5 million and less category.
The APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant, architect or engineer, and the contractor who, working together, complete public works projects. Awards are broken down by four divisions of size and five categories, including the environment, which covers treatment and recycling facilities, landfill reclamation projects and sewer projects, among other projects.
In addition, the APWA Southwest Branch will be honoring Flossmoor’s Berry Lane Stormwater Improvement project. Like the Skokie green alleys, the project was partially funded through the MWRD’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. The APWA Southwest Branch selected the Berry Lane improvements as project of the year in the environment category for projects under $5 million.
“By addressing stormwater management today, we are mitigating future flooding. We thank these communities for their partnership, investments and the APWA for recognizing the value these projects can have for a community,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “We look forward to completing many green alleys and drainage improvement projects in the future.”
The Levee 37 Interior Drainage Stormwater Improvement project included two separate park improvement projects through the River Trails Park District in which the village, engineering consultants and the MWRD sought ways to absorb and collect more stormwater to mitigate flooding. After assessing the situation, Mount Prospect officials reached out to the MWRD and applied for funding assistance through the MWRD’s Stormwater Partnership Program.
At Aspen Trails, construction crews installed an underground detention system, a new storm sewer, and restored curbs, sidewalks, driveways, and parkways. As a result, the project will provide flood relief for approximately 100 structures and reduce the likelihood of overland flooding from local runoff within the Levee 37 interior drainage area, while also providing countless visitors fun experiences at their new park facilities at Aspen Trails Park.
Less than a mile south, at Burning Bush Trails Park, partners completed a detention basin and pipe connection to existing storm sewers to provide flood relief for 32 structures within the Levee 37 interior drainage area just west of the Des Plaines River. Between Burning Bush Trails Park and Aspen Trails Park, the MWRD contributed more than $3.6 million to complete the projects.
In Skokie, the MWRD funded nearly $200,000 toward replacing three alleys with permeable pavement through the MWRD’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program. The Village of Skokie improved three existing alleys with permeable pavement and agreed to operate and maintain the new permeable pavement. The new alleys will reduce the current load to the combined sewer system and alleviate flooding within the project area. An alley was completed between the 9100 blocks of Ewing and Bennett Avenues, as well as the 8800 blocks of Central Park Avenue and Lincolnwood Drive, and the 8400 blocks of Christiana Avenue and McCormick Boulevard.
In Flossmoor, the MWRD helped fund the installation of permeable pavers along Berry Lane, from Sunset Avenue to Bob O Link Road. This project will increase stormwater infiltration for a contributing drainage area of nearly 90 acres benefiting 93 structures within an eighth of a mile radius. The project will also alleviate the burden on downstream storm sewer infrastructure.
“APWA’s awards to Mount Prospect and Skokie prove that we’re all moving in the right direction to reduce flooding in our communities,” said MWRD Commissioner and Stormwater Committee Chair Cam Davis. “This also is our way of extending an invitation to the 120-plus other communities around Cook County to apply to the district for stormwater partnership program funding so we can keep moving in the right direction together.”
