MWRD and River Grove showcase new green parking lot at Village Hall

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and River Grove officials unveiled a new green parking lot at River Grove Village Hall designed to help manage stormwater, reduce flooding and improve water quality amid a summer of heavy rains.

MWRD President Kari K. Steele, MWRD Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood and MWRD Commissioner Sharon Waller joined Village President David B. Guerin,River Grove Trustee Benjamin Ramirez and Leyden Township Supervisor Rocco D. Biscaglio other village officials and the community for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the environmentally sustainable project, at 2621 N. Thatcher Ave. in River Grove.

"Thank you to the Village of River Grove for their partnership in supporting projects that demonstrate how innovative green infrastructure can help assist with stormwater management," President Steele said. "Projects like this show that stormwater management can mean more than building bigger pipes or larger underground systems. Sometimes, the solution is right beneath our feet."

The new parking lot was developed through the MWRD's Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, which invites communities to propose innovative ways to manage stormwater. River Grove was one of 15 communities selected in 2025 to participate in the annual program.

The project transformed a previously impervious parking lot into a green infrastructure system featuring permeable pavers that allow more rainwater to move through the surface and into layers beneath the parking lot, where stormwater can be captured and managed.

In addition to the parking lot, the Village of River Grove has completed 39 green alleys, including 10 that were part of MWRD-funded green infrastructure projects.

"The Village of River Grove is proud of their partnership with MWRD," said Mayor Guerin. "Our green infrastructure projects look great, and improve the quality of life for our residents, keeping water out of their basements and protecting our waterways. We look forward to getting started on our future projects with our friends at MWRD."

The new parking lot represents an important step as the Chicago area continues to experience periods of significant rainfall. The region received nearly twice its average rainfall in April and eclipsed average monthly rainfall totals throughout summer months.

The green infrastructure project also connects an existing roof drainpipe to the new permeable surface, directing stormwater from the Village Hall roof into the system.

The initiative also helps improve area water quality by reducing stormwater runoff and helping limit pollutants carried into nearby waterways, including the Des Plaines River. The river has a history of overtopping its banks and contributing to flooding in River Grove and surrounding communities.

The new parking lot is designed to manage nearly 100,000 gallons of stormwater annually, equivalent to approximately 2,500 standard bathtubs. By incorporating green infrastructure into a municipal property, the project demonstrates how communities can use innovative approaches to manage stormwater while improving local water quality and creating more sustainable public spaces.