Harvey Central Park Stormwater Detention Basin
For far too long Harvey residents in south suburban Cook County have had to endure flooding and sewage backup in their basements. This has caused damage to homes, the loss of personal possessions and disrupted lives. The MWRD’s Harvey Central Park Stormwater Detention Basin project represents a nearly $10 million investment in protecting the Harvey community from flooding, while also delivering open-space recreation. The project calls for approximately 10,000 feet of new storm sewers and a 23-acre-foot detention basin designed to capture about 7.5 million gallons of water and provide much needed flood relief.
Project Description
The project involves the construction of a new detention basin and open green space on 4.4 acres along Myrtle Avenue between 153rd and 154th Street. New separate storm sewers will be installed along 153rd Street and on eight side streets (Paulina Street, Marshfield Avenue, Ashland Avenue, Vine Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Loomis Avenue, Lexington Avenue, and Turlington Avenue) between 153rd and 154th Street to convey flows to the storage basin. The system will discharge into the new Wood Street storm sewer system.
The MWRD is leading funding efforts for the project with an estimated construction cost of approximately $9.85 million.
Background
The MWRD would not be participating on this project if Harvey did not recognize its importance and communicate with the MWRD their needs during the study phase of the project. Recognizing an urgency to act, the MWRD and Harvey leaders began collaborating to identify potential solutions to address longstanding flooding issues in 2018. MWRD retained a consultant to study the nature and extent of the existing flooding problem in the city of Harvey and identify potential solutions to address the flooding. The study area was approximately 1,560 acres and consisted primarily of residential neighborhoods along with a mix of commercial, industrial, institutional, and open spaces such as parks and vacant parcels. Under the current conditions, 1,494 structures are impacted during the 100-year storm event. This project was designed to help alleviate these flooding problems. Upon completing this analysis and coordination with other agencies, the MWRD and Harvey identified the Central Park Detention Basin and Separate Storm Sewer Improvements as an important project for the future of Harvey. The exact location of the basin was determined in consultation with the city of Harvey over the past several years because it provides the greatest amount of flood relief to residents in the project area within budget.
Benefits
During the 100-year storm event, 209 structures will benefit as a result of the project. This project will reduce flows to the existing combined sewer to free up capacity in the areas downstream and reduce flooding in those areas as well. The reduced flow will also reduce the hydraulic grade line, or level at which water reaches the sewer system, and then potentially reduce basement backups. In addition to mitigating flooding, the project will improve the quality of life further by providing a dual-use open-water pond and open green space, including new walking paths and other recreation improvements. The MWRD, Harvey and project partners recognize the benefits of this type of investment and how a project this size can protect the larger community and deliver ancillary benefits that improve quality of life through sustainable planning, stormwater management, recreational, economic and social opportunities.
Project Timeline
The project is currently under design and construction is anticipated to begin in 2025. The construction is expected to take approximately 18 months.
Project Location Map & Green Space Features
