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$500,000 grant allows for expansion of Lombard pond

Lombard has been awarded a $500,000 state grant for the expansion of Vista Pond to ease flooding for residents living in the northeast corner of the village.

Public Works Director Carl Goldsmith said the village has been trying for years to address flooding near the pond, which is located north of St. Charles Road and east of Grace Street.

Village staff members said 13 properties immediately adjacent the pond have faced repetitive losses due to flooding, along with additional homes downstream.

However, residents and the village have been limited in the ways they can address the stormwater issues because the pond is located in a combined sewer area, Goldsmith said.

According to village officials, the grant will help pay for the excavation of the west end of the pond to increase its capacity by 7.2 acre feet, or about 2.3 million gallons.

Officials say the increased storage capacity will reduce the potential for basement backups and sewer overflows in the area.

The remaining cost of the roughly $715,000 project will be paid with money the village set aside for projects in its 2014 capital improvement plan.

Construction activity will not impact the playground area on the southwest corner of the park and the walking and running path around the pond will remain.

Without state funding, the project would have been deferred to another fiscal year, village officials said.

"(In) our area, we generally are givers, in terms of the state tax funds," said Trustee Peter Breen, who represents District 4, where the pond is located. "We give a lot more in our taxes down in Springfield than what we get back. This is one instance where we're getting back some of those monies ... so that's a good thing."

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