U.S. Senator Durbin, officials inspect Heritage Park Flood Control Facility construction site

Construction is under way at the Heritage Park Flood Control Facility in Wheeling, and last week, U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin and Illinois State Rep. Elaine Nekritz toured the area. Staff from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago were also present, along with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, Wheeling Park District, village of Wheeling, village of Mount Prospect and city of Prospect Heights.

Once complete, the complex will provide compensatory floodwater storage upstream of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Levee 37 flood control structure in Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights along the Des Plaines River. Together with the Heritage Park Flood Control facility, the levee project will help alleviate flooding for approximately 600 homes and businesses.

“It is gratifying to see this project under way,” said Rep. Nekritz. “The flood protection for constituents along the Des Plaines River in Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect will not only save millions of dollars but will also provide peace of mind.”

The complex includes six stormwater storage areas that will have a total capacity to store more than 49 million gallons of rain water. Additional improvements to the park include new walkways, a pavilion by the lake, a band shell, soccer fields and baseball diamonds.

The MWRD Board of Commissioners and representatives from the Wheeling Park District and the village of Wheeling signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in 2010 for the design, construction, and operation of the stormwater and related additional improvements to Heritage Park. The MWRD Commissioners retained AECOM Technical Services to design the project and awarded a contract to F.H. Paschen/Lake County Grading Joint Venture to construct the facility, which will be completed in under two years.

“The Heritage Park Flood Control Facility is a great example of how we can work together to provide stormwater management facilities along with public recreational amenities,” said MWRD Commissioner Debra Shore.

“The Heritage Park project represents a fine example of intergovernmental cooperation for the betterment of the region, and we salute MWRD and the Wheeling Park District for their vision and initiative,” said Wheeling village President Judy Abruscato.

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