Village of Calumet Park receives $611,250 for green infrastructure projects
SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John Kim announced the Village of Calumet Park will receive $611,250 in Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunity (GIGO) grant funding to implement the West Side Green Street project, reducing stormwater runoff in a flood prone area in Calumet Park.
The project will convert a portion of Winchester Avenue to a ‘green street’ by reconstruction with permeable pavement along with subsurface stormwater storage. There will also be a green detention basin created in Veterans Park. The project will expand an already-planned green infrastructure project in the corridor that includes a bioswale and permeable pavement parking.
“Protecting Illinois communities and businesses from persistent flooding and water damage is a top priority for my administration, which is why the Rebuild Illinois capital plan has funding specifically dedicated to green infrastructure initiatives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through the West Side Green Street project, the residents of Calumet Park will have increased protection against excess stormwater and peace of mind that their homes and families are safe.”
The Village of Calumet Park developed the project proposal to address longstanding problems with basement backups and street and yard flooding, which has been an issue even after relatively minor rain events. The Village estimates that there has been at least one major flood event per year. The Village applied for a GIGO grant from Illinois EPA with a total project budget of $815,000, with Illinois EPA providing $611,250 in grant funds and the Village providing $203,750 in match.
“The project will reduce the potential for flooding by capturing stormwater runoff,” said Director Kim. “The project has been designed to respond to flood damage to local households and to reduce the amount of stormwater delivered into the combined sewer system, protecting the local homes and the water quality of the downstream creeks and rivers.”
“The Village is excited to be among the first communities selected for the IEPA Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities program. With this funding we will leverage generous grants from Cook County and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to create the first green boulevard within the Village and region,” said Mayor Ronald Denson. “By converting Winchester Avenue into a completely green corridor and by adding naturalized detention in Veterans Park, the Village will provide much needed stormwater management relief for the Village’s West Side Neighborhood. This project, once constructed, will be the first realized as a result of a series of planning efforts, including CNT’s RainReady plan and the CMAP sponsored Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2020. We are excited to see these planning efforts realized as on the ground projects.”
The GIGO Grant Program is a competitive financial assistance grant program established to help protect Illinois’ water resources. The GIGO Program is funded through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. The funds are used to implement green infrastructure best management practices to control stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff causes flooding and carries pollutants into waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and even groundwater.
For additional information on Illinois’ Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities Grant Program: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/water-quality/surface-water/Pages/greeninfrastructure.aspx.
