Communities drive investments in Chicago’s south suburbs

Cook County’s RainReady Calumet Corridor

Greenprint is partnering with the Center for Neighborhood Technology to advance stormwater management projects in six flood-prone communities along the Little Calumet River in Chicago’s south suburbs: Blue Island, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Dolton, Riverdale and Robbins. The communities are located in low-lying areas that have suffered long-standing disinvestment in infrastructure. Coupled with increasing intensity of storm events from climate change, the communities are experiencing intense roadway flooding, frequent sewer system overwhelm, and property damage from sewer backups and seepage. Funded by Cook County through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the RainReady Calumet Corridor implementation initiative aims to implement the stormwater management strategies previously outlined in each community’s RainReady Plan.‍

Our planning team has been meeting regularly with resident steering committees in each community to ensure we understand local priorities and specific stormwater challenges. Through our discussions, resident steering committees have prioritized the following projects, all of which will be constructed by the end of 2026:

• Stormwater bumpouts in Calumet City: Reducing flooding and improving pedestrian safety at a key intersection near a daycare
• Permeable pavement in Robbins: Enhancing connectivity and stormwater management with a permeable pavement sidewalk and subsurface storage along a major road
• Green schoolyard revitalization in Calumet Park: Transforming an elementary school courtyard into a functional, vibrant space for students and the community
• Home improvement program: Assisting homeowners with overhead sewer lines and small-scale green infrastructure, such as rain gardens and rain barrels, to prevent basement sewer backups and reduce nuisance flooding

Greenprint is now guiding these projects through the design and permitting stages. Over the next two years, these projects will move from planning to reality, creating a greener and more resilient future for the Calumet Corridor communities.

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Illustrations: CNT