BIOSWALES WITHIN THE WATERSHED
Barefoot Bay Aquatic Center
Mundelein Park District
1461 N Midlothian Rd., Mundelein, IL
The park district installed a large bioswale in the center of the Aquatic Center parking lot (photo at right).
Please note that there are signs installed in the bioswale that say "rain garden". Depending on how they are engineered, bioswales and rain gardens can serve similar functions and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
Ryerson Woods Conservation Area Welcome Center
21950 N. Riverwoods Rd., Deerfield, IL
The Welcome Center parking lot utilizes a combination of bioswales and porous asphalt (photo at left) to help manage stormwater.
Visit the Welcome Center web site.
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BIOSWALES OUTSIDE OF THE WATERSHED
Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT)
445 North Sacramento Boulevard, Chicago, IL
Rainwater falling on the ground at CCGT flows from parking lots and sidewalks into bioswales, which flow into a wetland. CCGT is the third building in the United States to be designed using the highest standards of green technology available. Visitors are welcome to explore the public areas of the building and campus. Brochures for self-guided tours are available at the building.
Visit the CCGT web site.
Private Residence
168 Elm Ave., Elmhurst, IL
Marcus de la Fleur of the Conservation Design Forum has transformed his home into a virtual watershed friendly landscaping demonstration site. Mr. de la Fleur converted a narrow strip along the shady north side of the house into a bioswale using native savanna and woodland species. The bioswale accepts overflow from the adjacent cistern.
Learn more on Mr. de la Fleur's web site.
Kohl Children's Museum
2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, IL
Bioswales are installed in portions of the parking lot outside this Silver Level Certified LEED building.
Visit the museum web site.
The Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL
The Arboretum utilizes a combination of bioswales and permeable pavers (photo at right) to help manage stormwater. They also constructed a wetland between the parking lot and Meadow Lake. Rain water filters through the permeable pavers in the parking lot and flows into drainage pipes that deliver it into the wetland.
Visit their web site for more information and a list of plants used in their bioswale and constructed wetland.
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Know of other examples of bioswales on public property that could be included on this web page? Email us a description and address.
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