Schaumburg receives 2012 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award
The village of Schaumburg was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness to receive a 2012 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award for the Olde Schaumburg Centre Parking Lot Project.
The Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards recognize exceptional projects that incorporate native landscaping, ecosystem restoration, and protection and/or conservation design.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness support the use of native landscaping and conservation development because they produce numerous environmental benefits including: increasing biodiversity and creating habitat for a variety of species.
Through the awards program, these organizations hope to raise awareness about native landscaping and encourage others to adopt sustainable practices.
The Olde Schaumburg Center Parking Lot is a 140 space parking lot in the heart of Schaumburg’s historic district. The project focused on several goals: provide additional parking for local businesses, provide needed stormwater management, include sustainable development practices and meet the aesthetic requirements of the historic district.
Eighty percent of the parking stalls were constructed using permeable pavers with underground rock-void detention storage. The parking lot is bordered on three sides by naturally planted bio-swales, detention basins, and ornamental plantings.
The fourth side contains many large trees with turf and ornamental plantings which were preserved to help buffer the adjacent residential areas. Stormwater best management practices and a recycled rain water irrigation system are the highlights of this sustainable development.
The awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Chicago Botanic Garden Auditorium.
For information on this project, contact Landscape Planner Todd Wenger at twenger@ci.schaumburg.il.us