Franklin Park is moving forward with a plan to help alleviate sewer backups and, at the same time, beautify a traffic artery through the village.
The Pacific Avenue Green Infrastructure project includes the installation of small-scale bioretention areas that will replace existing impervious pavement in the right-of-way along Pacific Avenue, between Dora and Ruby Streets, according to village information about the project.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is picking up $270,000 of the $571,085 total cost. In September, Franklin Park village trustees approved the village’s $301,085 share of the expense.
According to project engineer Joseph Webster, the new retention areas encompass 1,200 square yards in five locations on Pacific Avenue. Existing curbs, gutters, pavement and excess dirt will be removed in order to install native plants atop soil amended with MWRD composted biosolids
At the bottom of the rain garden a drain tile is embedded in aggregate rock that routes the filtered runoff into the sewer, the plans explain.
Among the 13 species of native plants that will be installed, according to the project plans, are the broad-leaved purple coneflower, little bluestem, brown-eyed Susan and the common milkweed.
“This is a project that addresses sewer backup,” Webster said. “The reduction in speed or volume and the filtration of runoff is beneficial to the system as a whole. In particular, residents and businesses with sanitary discharge connected to this system from this point and downstream benefit from smaller chances of sewer backups.”
New extended curbs will be poured at the affected street intersections to increase motorist sight lines, create safer pedestrian conditions and provide a greater area for bioretention. Parking removed from the front of businesses will be replaced by narrowing the side street drive aisles and designating angled parking, the plans indicate.
“Green infrastructure installations use natural landscaping to manage water and provide environmental and community benefits,” MWRD Board of Commissioners President Kari Steele said. “The MWRD is encouraged that Franklin Park is proceeding with the rain garden project along Pacific Avenue. It will provide localized detention, help alleviate flooding, improve local water quality, enhance a public space, reduce the current load to the combined sewer system and mitigate sewer backups within the project area.”
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Webster said the entire project will be completed before the end of this calendar year.
“The village and the MWRD have been working together on the financing and permitting of the project for a couple years,” Franklin Park Village Engineer Tom McCabe said. “We are both extremely happy getting to this point where the construction is finally happening.”
Steele added: “A native garden in an industrial corridor can also encourage business owners, employees and visitors to consider green infrastructure to better manage water, property by property. As rain storms increase in intensity, we all play an important role in implementing green infrastructure solutions.”
Gary Gibula is a freelancer.