Mayor Barrett Pedersen was presented with the 2014 Sustainable Landscaping Award by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) recently at their annual Sustainability Summit. The award was given to Franklin Park in recognition of the Village’s commitment to natural landscaping and for the inclusion of sustainable practices in the building of the new police station.

Under Mayor Pedersen leadership, the Village of Franklin Park has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and has implemented initiatives to support sustaining our environment and our economy with renewable, sustainable practices.

A $985,000 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) grant, allowed the Village to incorporate innovative storm-water management practices which utilize green infrastructure to capture, filter, infiltrate and detain storm-water runoff at the new facility. A cistern collects rainwater from the roof and is used for irrigation and in public restroom fixtures to reduce water use. Permeable pavers and porous pavement were utilized in the driveway and parking lot to limit runoff and reduce sewer overflows.

PHOTO: Mayor Pedersen together with the president of finance at MWRD, Mariyana Spyropoulos, Commissioner Patrick D. Thompson and Commissioner Debra Shore.