Cook County’s Climate Resiliency Planning for Communities Program

CIS is leading the second phase of Cook County’s Climate Resiliency Planning for Communities Program. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this initiative will assist five County communities—Bellwood, Franklin Park, Justice, Lynwood, and the City of Markham—in creating climate resiliency plans and turning them into reality through project design and construction. During the first phase, these communities created their climate resiliency plans and set clear goals. Now, in the second phase, CIS is working alongside these communities to bring those plans to fruition, with $14 million in ARPA funding supporting the efforts.

CIS is working directly with stakeholders in each community to develop individualized projects relevant to their needs, putting communities at the center of project planning and prioritization. CIS is managing the execution of various projects, including reducing flooding and stormwater damage, enhancing green stormwater infrastructure, rehabilitating sanitary and combined sewer systems, and expanding and protecting tree canopies. Over 24 months, CIS will deliver approximately 17 projects from concept design through construction totaling $14 million. CIS’s work in these five communities is expected to set the stage for climate resiliency planning and implementation in Cook County.

In Franklin Park, for example, CIS is implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) along Grand Avenue to mitigate stormwater runoff, beautify the Village’s gateway, and improve pedestrian access and traffic flow. In Markham, CIS is creating a new park on two city-owned vacant lots that will incorporate GSI to mitigate climate impacts and increase opportunities for outdoor recreation. Other projects include green alleyways, rehabilitating sewers, upgrading and providing backup power to lift stations, performing drainage studies, and developing a sewer atlas.