MWRD to celebrate completion of first suburban green schoolyard in Burnham

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WHO: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and partners

WHAT: Ribbon Cutting for the MWRD's first suburban green schoolyard

WHERE: Burnham Elementary School, 13945 S. Greenbay Ave., Burnham

WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2026, at 10 a.m.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will join Burnham Elementary School and the Board of Education of School District 154.5 at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, to celebrate the completion of the MWRD's first suburban green schoolyard at Burnham Elementary School, located at 13945 S. Greenbay Ave., Burnham, IL. The project transforms the schoolyard into a vibrant outdoor space for students while helping to reduce flooding for the school and surrounding neighborhood.

Building on more than a decade of successful schoolyard transformations through the Space to Grow™ program in Chicago Public Schools, the MWRD launched a suburban green schoolyard pilot program to bring similar benefits to more communities. The Burnham project features a turf field, running track, playground, basketball and multi-use sports courts, an infiltration trench and native plants. The new permeable surfaces and green infrastructure can capture and store 253,820 gallons of stormwater each time it rains.

The Burnham project is the first of several planned suburban green schoolyard initiatives, with additional projects in development at Graves Elementary and Heritage Middle Schools in Summit, Morton East High School in Cicero, and Leyden East High School in Franklin Park. Through partnerships with local school districts, the MWRD aims to expand access to engaging outdoor spaces while investing in green infrastructure that helps manage stormwater and build community resilience.