By Josh Ellis and MPC Research Assistant Kelsey Pudlock - February 10, 2015
On behalf of the Northeastern Illinois Resilience Partnership, the City of Chicago, Cook County and DuPage County are hosting a series of community workshops throughout the Chicagoland area to address the region’s resilience to extreme weather events, particularly rainstorms that result in flooding and flood-related damage to homes and public infrastructure. The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is helping spread the word about these meetings, but is not organizing them.
If you or someone you know has been inconvenienced by extreme weather events, this workshop series is for you! Workshops will allow residents and local businesses to share these experiences, learn how to be prepared and respond to extreme weather and present ideas about making homes, businesses and neighborhoods more resilient.
Communities throughout the region with a history of heavy flooding have been selected as pilot communities a regional application to HUD's National Disaster Resilience Competition. Within Chicago, these communities include: Austin, North Lawndale, Humboldt Park, Little Village and Garfield Park. In the remainder of Cook County, pilot communities include: Alsip, Blue Island, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Crestwood, Dolton, Robbins and Riverdale. DuPage County is focusiing on several communities along the East Branch of the DuPage River. If you are a resident or business owner in one of these communities and have been inconvenienced by extreme weather, we strongly encourage your participation!
Please note, meetings are not scheduled in each of these communities. If you do not see one in your immediate neighborhood or town, please head over to one of the others.
All meetings will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the locations listed below.
Monday, Feb. 9
Town Hall Park
5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago (Austin)
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Homan Square Park
3517 W. Arthington St.
Chicago (North Lawndale)
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Humboldt Park
1400 N. Sacramento Ave.
Chicago (Humboldt Park)
Thursday, Feb. 12
Blue Island City Hall East Annex
2434 W. Vermont St.
Blue Island
Tuesday, Feb. 17
St. Agnes of Bohemia, Bishop Manz Hall
2658 S. Central Park Ave.
Chicago (Little Village)
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Garfield Park Conservatory Community Room
300 N. Central Park Ave.
Chicago (Garfield Park)
Thursday, Feb. 19
Downey Park
300 Jeffery Ave. (entrance on Stewart Ave. on south side)
Calumet City
Friday, Feb. 20
Robbins Community Center (RCHA)
13800 S. Trumbull Ave.
Robbins
Monday, Feb. 23 (7 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
Lombard Village Hall
255 E. Wilson Ave.
Lombard
Please feel free to download the the City of Chicago's flyer or Cook County's flyer and share with anyone that would be interested in participating in these workshops. You can also find contact information there for the organizers of these meetings. More information is also availble on the DuPage County web site and via the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.