A citywide stormwater strategy that prioritizes equity, community input and climate resilience

City of Chicago Green Stormwater Infrastructure Strategy

Greenprint led the development of Chicago’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure Strategy, a citywide initiative spearheaded by the Department of Environment. The strategy aims to enhance stormwater management, reduce urban flooding and ensure equitable access to green infrastructure.

The data-driven framework integrates hydrological data, flood risk assessments, and financial analysis to help guide funding and policy decisions. It also establishes maintenance and governance models to sustain assets and prioritize investments in flood-prone and historically underserved areas. Key tasks included a citywide green infrastructure inventory and assessment, evaluating program effectiveness, creating a prioritization framework and performing a cost-benefit analysis of green infrastructure typologies to inform funding strategies.

Greenprint collaborated with local engagement and maintenance teams to ensure community input and workforce development were central to the process. The final strategy report outlines recommended investments, policy actions and an implementation roadmap, ensuring Chicago’s approach to stormwater management is strategic, equitable and built for long-term resilience.