Environmental Progress - Spring 2005

"Green Communities" Complete Visioning Plans

Grassroots process addresses local environmental issues

Most of the Illinois EPA "Green Communities" participants selected in 2002 have now completed their visioning plans and are moving to implement them. A total of 16 local governments and community groups around the state were given Demonstration Project grants to develop a vision, goals and action plans for improving their local environments.

"The Green Communities Demonstration Program has been shown to provide an effective tool to help communities plan for a sustainable future, using an inclusive local approach with state government as a partner," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano.

"Environmental issues that can be addressed by the local groups include clean air and water; energy efficiency; waste reduction; natural areas protection and restoration; clean fleets; and environmental education," Director Cipriano added.

The communities receiving the grants are also eligible for technical assistance and priority consideration for state funds to help them implement their environmental strategies.

Population size and geographical criteria were included in the selection process used by Illinois EPA to achieve representation in Green Communities by a cross-section of local governments and organizations across the state. Highlights of the plans completed include:

Oswego
Waste reduction and recycling. Change waste hauling contracts to "pay-as-you-throw." Encourage businesses to set up recycling programs. Establish special collections for hard to recycle items. Educate school children about waste reduction practices.

Monee/Peotone/University Park
Groundwater and Wetlands Protection. Encourage the use of watershed mapping tools in local government decision-making. Establish natural stormwater management elements as green infrastructure in tax increment financing districts. Promote use of conservation easements to protect open space. Encourage airport authority and local governments to acquire land for restoration of wetlands. Revise subdivision ordinances to allow wetland vegetation to be used to control stormwater runoff.

Little Village Neighborhood / Chicago
Parks and Recreation. Develop more parks and recreational opportunities for the community. Provide more public access to South Branch of Chicago River. Create an "adopt a park" program for local businesses.

Du Quoin
Renewable Energy. Convert city fleet to use of alternative fuels and/or electric hybrid engines. Provide 50 percent of the energy for City Hall and Fire Station #1 with solar power. Power at least one local industry with an alternative form of energy.

Homer Glen
Open Space Enhancement. Establish GIS database identifying environmental features of the village. Develop a plan for open space protection and acquisition. Protect 200 additional acres of open space. Develop protection mechanisms for wetlands and stream corridor areas. Initiate farmland protection measures that safeguard at least five active farming sites.

Robbins
Watershed Protection. Remove trash and brush from Midlothian Creek and stabilize streambank. Extend walking path along the creek throughout the village. Develop and adopt BMPs for stormwater run-off into the creek. Develop links between school-based programs and community projects, such as revegetating banks of the creek with native plants.

Sleepy Hollow
Environmental Education. Create a best environmental practices manual for citizens. Provide educational materials on alternative leaf and yard waste management. Provide information to homeowners on energy efficiency opportunities. Conduct educational seminar on local waterway system.

Kinzie Industrial Corridor/Chicago
Stormwater Management. Install permeable pavement systems for parking lots, truck storage and loading areas. Use cisterns to collect rainwater for reuse. Install bioswales on city property to naturally drain water.

Rock River Valley
Smart Growth. Update municipal and county comprehensive land use plans to include bicycle transportation. Promote conservation design ordinances that allow clustering of house lots to preserve unique natural features and large areas of open space. Promote adaptive reuse of buildings in older areas.

Macon County
Recycling. Extend recycling services to more areas of the county. Attract businesses that process and use recycled content materials to strengthen local recycling markets. Close the recycling loop by promoting the purchase of recycled content products.

Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren Counties
Natural Areas. Compile a database of all natural resource planning, restoration and protection efforts to educate local officials and encourage partnership efforts. Develop maps of high quality natural resources and develop a greenways plan. Disseminate information to public on the need to protect and restore natural resources.

Chicago Heights and South Chicago Heights
Water Quality. Establish a liaison to work with local groups and agencies on regional initiatives to improve water quality. Create volunteer programs to collect water quality samples and participate in cleanup events. Educate residents on ways to improve stormwater management by reducing fertilizer use, properly disposing of household hazardous materials and building rain gardens.

St. Clair County
Redevelopment of Older/Core Communities. Target use of tax increment financing to encourage development in older communities, not greenfield sites. Encourage renovation of existing buildings for business and residential use. Maintain and repair existing public infrastructure like roads and sewers. Redevelop brownfield sites and support historic preservation efforts.

Chebanse
Parks and Beautification. Make improvements in village entrance and signage. Plant trees and flowers in downtown and interstate highway areas. Establish a new village park and investigate acquisition of open space areas. Expand recreational programs for youth and seniors.