PraireWalk Pond and Dragonfly Landing - Fun with a Purpose!
Click here for 2013 information about PrairieWalk Pond.
On April 25, 2008, the Village of Lisle was awarded a $400,000 OSLAD grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant was used to help fund the creation of a 4.5 acre natural area named PrairieWalk Pond and a unique children’s play area named Dragonfly Landing in Downtown Lisle. PrairieWalk Pond's grand opening occurred on October 30, 2010 while Dragonfly Landing's grand opening occurred on June 4, 2011.
PrairieWalk Pond provides diverse recreational activities for people of all ages, while serving as a storm water retention basin that supports the redevelopment in Downtown Lisle.
PrairieWalk Pond is located just west of Main Street in Downtown Lisle. It is bordered by Route 53 on the west, Ogden Avenue on the north, Burlington Avenue on the South and Garfield Avenue on the east.
The Beginning - A Master Plan Recommendation
The Village purchased 23 parcels of flood plain property and demolished the existing homes to prepare the site for this project. Most properties were purchased from 2005 to 2007. Two properties had already been purchased - one in 1989 and one in 1998. This project was a recommendation from the Downtown Lisle Master Plan and was designed to effectively manage downtown storm water, reduce flooding and support downtown redevelopment. 
Now, storm water that rains on the downtown is directed to the pond via underground storm sewers. Normally, the pond is eight feet deep in the center and holds approximately 3.1 million gallons of water.
During a heavy storm, another 1.5 million gallons of water flows into the pond, raising the water level 2 feet. At its peak capacity, the pond can hold almost 4.6 million gallons of water and be 10 feet deep.
The pond's slope contains plants that filter and clean the water. Over time, the water is slowly released into a storm sewer that transports it under Route 53, then to an open channel that flows into the East Branch of the DuPage River, just south of Ogden Avenue.
Year Round Fun!
While serving a practical purpose of effectively managing downtown storm water, the OSLAD grant and the Village's matching funds helped transform the site into a wonderful recreational area the public named PrairieWalk Pond.
PrairieWalk Pond features the 2-acre pond with a curving shoreline, multiple scenic overlooks, stone outcroppings and a preserved wetland.
Lighted paths encircle the pond and connect to Main Street via the Garden Walk, a landscaped walking path.
A gazebo juts out into the water where colored fountains light up the night sky and serve as a beautiful gateway into the downtown.
More than 100 different types of native plants, grasses, shrubs and trees are contained on the site.
Different types of vegetation were used for the wetland, shoreline, grassy areas, basin slope and children's area.
An interactive children’s play area, Dragonfly Landing, completes the project.
Dragonfly Landing Children's Play Area
Dragonfly Landing features a shelter with a living “green” roof and a fun splash pad where giant colorful flowers mist water and interactive water jets.
Nature-themed play structures such as a tree house, leaping lily pads and cat tail swingers inspire creativity, encourage exploration, provide conservation education opportunities and are just plain fun!
This site is based on a nature theme, which reflects Lisle's brand as "The Arboretum Village." The site also includes a number of sustainable elements such as a preserved wetland, native landscaping, LED lighting, a green roof, permeable pavers, educational signage, a storm water management system and water conservation elemtents.
Purchasing the flood plain property and demolishing the existing homes earned the Village the "2009 Mitigation Project of the Year" by the Illinois Association of Floodplain and Storm Water Management.
Click here to view a photo album of PrairieWalk Pond and Dragonfly Landing.
