Many people are enjoying the beautiful new pond located just west of the downtown on Route 53 and Burlington Avenue.  While beautiful, the pond serves an important purpose. It is a storm water retention basin, effectively managing or mitigating downtown storm water.

Because of the basin, downtown properties can be more effectively redeveloped by redirecting storm water that would normally have to be managed onsite to the basin.

In fact, the basin was awarded the “2009 Mitigation Award” from the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Storm Water Management. This award recognizes a community that encourages reduction of flood hazard situations through various mitigation or storm management efforts.
 
To ensure the public fully enjoys this site, the Village applied for and was awarded a $400,000 OSLAD Grant (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant) from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

This grant will help fund the installation of lighted walking trails around the pond, a gazebo, seating areas, educational signage, a unique children’s area and preserve existing wetlands on the site.

The Village Board will review final designs for this area during the September 21st   Workshop meeting at 7:30 pm at Village Hall.  The Village expects to go out for bids for this project in late fall. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2010 and be completed by the fall of 2010.

For more information about this exciting project and to see detailed designs, click here.