Naper Settlement receives $500,000 for stormwater improvements
Naper Settlement is getting federal dollars to make improvements to its stormwater system that may save it money down the road.
Officials at the 19th-century history museum near downtown Naperville recently learned U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert was able to secure $500,000 for the project from the Environmental Protection Agency's State and Tribal Assistance Grants program.
"I'm pleased to have gotten these funds for Naper Settlement, a peerless educational resource and repository of local history," Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, said in a statement. "In addition to helping Naper Settlement, this project will also improve water quality in the DuPage River watershed, which benefits surrounding communities."
The Naperville Heritage Society plans to expand the museum within its 13-acre campus and when it does so, will need to upgrade its stormwater management system to meet county ordinances.
It's neighbor, Naperville Central High School, will soon be doing stormwater upgrades of its own as it undergoes a major renovation. By adding capacity for both entities at once, the settlement can save about $110,000 it would have otherwise spent duplicating efforts.
Debbie Grinnell, director of preservation services, said settlement leaders are grateful for Biggert's help in securing funding for the project. It will also benefit nearby communities, she said, because the stormwater will be properly stored and purified before being dispersed into the DuPage River.
"We're very excited about this," Grinnell said. "We feel it's a huge improvement to the city property, great for this area of Naperville where water does drain into the DuPage River. We want to be responsible agents and we're happy to have the money to be spending in Illinois."
Grinnell said the $500,000 should address the majority of the settlement's cost, although officials are still working with engineers and will have to get bids for the project.
Work likely will take place next summer and because it is on Central's property, Grinnell expects the museum to stay open during the project.