CMAP Economic Recovery Update (9-15-10)

View the latest regional Economic Recovery Update, produced by CMAP in partnership with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC).  

The CMAP Economic Recovery Update has been a great vehicle to provide important stimulus news, announcements on funding opportunities, description of awards made, case studies on local program implementation, and information on program progress and impacts. These updates have been in distribution in some form since before the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was even passed, beginning in January of 2009. In September of 2009, these updates became a project of the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC) and included contributions from RACC members on stimulus news and developments related to housing, energy, weatherization, and workforce development. Now that nearly all ARRA funding has been allocated and nearly two-thirds have been paid out, the work of the RACC will be refocused and the Economic Recovery Updates will be discontinued. We will keep you posted on the future direction of the RACC and continue sharing important information through CMAP's Weekly Updates.

by Anne Holub
9/13/10

Patty Pan Squash by Marshall Rosenthal from our Flickr pool.

A delicious rite of fall are the arrival of various types of squash at the grocery store and at the local farmer's markets, like these at the Andersonville Farmer's Market in Chicago.  I've just started taking advantage of being able to sample some of the most interesting vegetables at these markets -- where I usually would pass them by because they're unfamiliar.  But I love being able to talk to the farmer and get their opinions on the best way to cook their produce.  Have you ever come back from the market with a new (to you) fruit or vegetable (or bread or cheese)?  What was your favorite discovery?  Submit your favorite foodie photos to our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr pool!

The GO TO 2040 draft plan emphasises a need for the region to promote local and sustainable food like that grown by area farmer's and delivered to neighborhoods in weekly markets.

by Amy Talbot
9/9/10

Do you know about LEED?  It stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a United States Green Building Council (USGBC) program that defines and quantifies best practice standards for green building projects.  Qualified projects receive LEED certification and a plague to showcase their project.  In our region, we have over a 100 certified projects, with many more registered and on their way to being certified.  Although only one of the many green building programs, LEED is a well-known resource for professionals, governments, and homeowners interested in green building.  Solar panels, native landscaping, green roofs, high efficiency toilets are some of the best practices supported by the LEED programs.  While the economy is showing signs of slowing, there has been growth in green building projects.  Up front LEED generally adds about a 2 percent increase in cost to projects but in the long term can save money for the building owners and conserve water and energy resources.

The city of Chicago itself has been a leader in LEED certified buildings with 124 within the city limits, adding 4 million square feet of green roof space serving as stormwater management and a cooling mechanism to decrease urban heat island.  The city also promotes LEED for municipal buildings (current total of 32) with all new buildings constructed since 2004 following LEED standards.  In addition the complimentary Green Permit Program incentives contractors to incorporate green building techniques into their plans by offering to save time (through expedited permitting) and money (reduced fees).  Incorporating LEED standards for municipal buildings is also practiced in several other locations in the region.  Is your community one of them?

Recently, NPR published a two-part series on LEED construction, noting that Green building now accounts for almost a third of all new construction in the U.S. And Grist wrote just this week about how Chicago LEEDs other cities in eco construction (pun absolutely intended).

At CMAP, we have incorporated LEED into both our regional comprehensive GO TO 2040 plan and Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan citing both water and energy savings as the main benefit.  For more information visit the USGBC website.

by Anne Holub
8/24/10

"Taking the Plunge" by Duane Rapp from our pool.

The humidity's going down (slowly) but it's still not the end of summer till Labor Day (or, depending how you look at it, September 23rd, which is the official first day of Autumn). How are you spending time while the weather's still warm? At the Chicago Air & Water Show, Duane Rapp captured a joyful jump into Lake Michigan. Add your favorite summertime shots to our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr pool!

CMAP Economic Recovery Update (8-11-10)

View the latest regional Economic Recovery Update, produced by CMAP in partnership with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC).  Be watching for it every month, and click here to sign up for CMAP email updates.

Photo from Genesis Growers

This post originally appeared on The Local Beet. 

Last week, I saw a post on Slow Food Chicago soliciting volunteers to help Genesis Growers spend the day pulling weeds.  I convinced a couple of my friends to join me on the excursion to St. Anne, IL, 70 miles south of Chicago.  Genesis Growers is run by “Farmer Vicki” with the help of her son Jon; her head worker, Jay; and 6-8 employees.  They also have the help of volunteers like us who get a chance to see how much hard work goes into growing food organically. 

Genesis Growers practice sustainable, natural farming and they are on the rigorous path to organic certification.  Vicki told us about the recent tornado that came through St. Anne; she watched it tear down her street! The tornado left the farm rain-soaked and in serious need of weeding.  A nearby farmer joked with her that he could get rid of her weeds for just $5 an acre.  She winced; her dedication to organic farming means that weeding must be done by hand, without the use of chemicals.  And Genesis Growers pay their workers a living wage, so five dollars on her farm doesn’t go very far.  Our group of 6 volunteers pulling weeds for 4 hours didn’t quite make it halfway through 4 rows of eggplant!  Vicki laughed and said, “And people ask why organic is so expensive!”

Ignoring our blackened fingernails and sweat-soaked clothes, we chatted over tasty Southport Grocery sandwiches (provided by Slow Food Chicago).  From the bike-riding vegan to the urban planner, to the food enthusiasts, we all have reasons for supporting local farmers and ideas for making our region (and our world) a better place.  I currently subscribe to get fruit and vegetables from a variety of local farms, but the experience on Vicki’s farm made me want to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  Becoming a CSA member involves a deeper commitment to your farmer.  When a hailstorm destroys the pepper crop (as was the case for Vicki this summer), you hear about it in your newsletter and forgo peppers until the next batch is ready for harvesting.  You also know that you are giving the farmer a guaranteed wage at the beginning of the season; you are investing in their endeavors.  At the same time, until we see significant policy changes, “voting with your fork” will not be enough to keep small-scale organic farmers afloat.  

Spending the day on the farm is something I’d recommend to anyone who questions farmer’s market prices.  It is hard work; my fingers were sore, my neck was burnt, and I didn’t even put in a full day!  

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) recognizes the importance of local food – from environmental impacts to health benefits.  The GO TO 2040 long-range comprehensive plan recommends promoting a sustainable local food system (PDF).  Specifically, the plan focuses on three implementation areas: facilitating sustainable local food production and addressing policy changes; increasing access to fresh, affordable, and healthy foods; and increasing data, research, training, and information sharing.  The draft regional comprehensive plan is the result of a six step planning process that began in September of 2007 with the development of a Regional Vision that outlined our desired future in terms of the region’s quality of life, natural environment, social systems, economy, infrastructure, and governance.  The GO TO 2040 Plan is open for public comment through August 6th, so let us know how you feel about our recommendations!

by Lindsay Banks
7/12/10

TransMilenio - Hereos station , by Jorge Lascar

Last week, the Chicago Department of Transportation was granted over $35 million to launch a bus rapid transit system traveling through downtown and also between the South Side and the Loop.  The concept of bus rapid transit (BRT) is not new to the Chicago region; the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) have been studying BRT throughout the metropolitan region and have done planning for pilot areas (which did not get implemented due to missed deadlines). 

BRT is high-quality, high-capacity bus service that would travel on dedicated lanes. As our GO TO 2040 public input showed, many people want transit, but they usually insist on rail transit while remaining apprehensive about buses.  But buses can be much more cost-effective at moving people.  Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff cited an estimate of the deferred maintenance backlog for the entire transit universe at about $78 billion, 75% of which is needed to replace rail assets.  He emphasized that communities currently thinking about laying down “shiny new rails” should think about the long term maintenance costs that they will face down the road, before committing to new transit.  Alternatively, BRT could be a solution to fulfill the demand for transit without incurring such high infrastructure costs.

Local and regional transit planners are facing the same budget shortfalls everywhere, and are often forced to make service cuts.  Aaron Renn of Urbanophile.com, cites Rogoff making a good point when talking to communities seeking federal transit funding:

If you can’t afford to operate the system you have, why does it make sense for us to partner in your expansion? If you can’t afford your current footprint, does expanding that underfunded footprint really advance the President’s goals for cutting oil use and greenhouse gases? Does it really advance our economic goals in any sustainable way? Are we at risk of just helping communities dig a deeper hole for our children and our grandchildren?

High-quality BRT bears little resemblance to POBS* (Plain Old Bus Service).  My fellow transit riders who despise POBS have typical complaints: it’s too slow, it’s unpredictable, and buses will be 20 minutes late and then 3 will show up at the same time (“bus bunching”).  I agree with those points, but a well-devised BRT system would change that. 

An oft-cited example of high quality BRT is Bogotá’s TransMilenio, explained in a great video on StreetsBlog.org. Modernized buses make the experience almost identical to a subway system.  In Bogotá, they have major terminals that integrate multi-modal transportation (with free secured bike parking), free feeder buses, and a high-tech control room.  The CEO of TransMilenio said that in 1998, a trip of 30 km used to take about 2 hours, and now with TransMilenio, they can make the same trip in just 55 minutes.  She estimates that the system is transporting about 1.3 million people per day.  The Chicago project will not be as extensive as TransMilenio, but it will use transit signal priority, Bus Tracker real-time arrival signs at stops, and would include bus-priority lanes on two miles of downtown streets, which currently serve seven CTA bus routes.  An off-street transportation center just south of Union Station is also part of the plan. 

For communities in northeastern Illinois who desire new transit, BRT could be a cost-effective solution.  CMAP supports strategic investment in transportation (PDF), and increasing commitment to public transit (PDF).

by Lindsay Banks
7/7/10

opthamologist vs optometrist , by clarkmaxwell

Have you seen the new downtown sculpture in Pritzker Park?  Has it seen you?  The exhibit was revealed today and will be up through October.  This week's Explore Northeastern Illinois Photo of the week, by clarkmaxwell, captured workers installing the giant EYE at the end of June.

The sculpture was created by Tony Tasset, a Chicago resident and art professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. According to CNN, the cost of the installation was in the six figures and was paid for through a special tax paid by property owners on State Street.   In addition to the 30-foot tall EYE, Tasset designed a series of lamppost banners that show our state bird CARDINAL, in flight via 156 flipbook - style banners along State Street.  

(Get ready for bad pun number 2) Whether you think this sculpture is an urban eyesore or a cultural treat, public art has always played an important role in the Chicagoland area and is one aspect of the city that continues to bring millions of tourists to the region year-round, although perhaps fewer in the winter!

Read more about the importance of arts and culture in our strategy paper. For more puns and reflection on the exhibit, visit thewanderkind.com. 

Our Flickr Photos of the Week are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool.  Submit your photos today!

View the latest regional Economic Recovery Update, produced by CMAP in partnership with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC).  Be watching for it every other Wednesday, and click here to sign up for CMAP email updates.

by Anne Holub
6/28/10

This week, we simply can't forget those epic storms that just rolled through northeastern Illinois and the midwest. This awesome shot by Monika Thorpe shows some amazing lightning striking around the back of a set of clouds in Chicago. Remember to always stay safe in severe weather! TheChicago Red Cross has some great tips on not only emergency preparedness (including an emergency kit you can put together) during thunderstorms, but on what to do during a tornado warning, and flash floods.

Photo "summer storm 1" by Monika Thorpe from our Flickr pool.

by Diana Torres
6/22/10

Planning can be abstract, so the “My 2040” blog series aims to connect planning to real people throughout the region.  The following is one in a series of interviews with residents throughout the region.  The views expressed are not necessarily those of CMAP itself. To learn more about this series or to participate, please read more about the program. 

Special thanks to Michael Lambert for taking the time to share his thoughts and ideas with CMAP staff.  Michael can be contacted directly at 815-436-8133, ext. 12 or mlambert@arrisarchitects.com.

Michael Lambert is the president and founding principal of ARRIS Architects + Planners, P.  C., located in Plainfield, Will County.  Michael helped to found the Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission and served as chair from 2004 to 2010.  In addition, he has served on the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council, the Will County Historic Preservation Commission (which he chaired from 1992 to 1999), and served as an advisor to the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission.  He also participated in community service efforts with the Plainfield Historical Society, Landmarks Illinois, and on preservation awards juries for Geneva, Hinsdale, Oak Park, and Western Springs.  Michael obtained his Masters in Architecture -- Preservation Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

To learn more about how historic preservation relates to GO TO 2040, read the Historic Preservation strategy paper.

Q:  What aspect of GO TO 2040 excites you most and why?

A:  I grew up on a farm outside of Plainfield on a one-lane gravel road, now Weber Road, in the Village of Bolingbrook.  I’ve always had an interest in historic preservation.  I was fascinated how stand-alone communities can get absorbed into the suburban ring and make that transition while maintaining their identities.  An aspect of planning that is inevitable throughout our region is how communities integrate both historic preservation and new development.  New people have come to the outer suburban rings, and they often don’t get engaged [with their communities].  When people get attached only to a particular school and a particular house instead of a community, the importance of local historical places has no meaning in a community.  With a lack of understanding or interest, those important historic places are lost.  

Advocates are important to help promote awareness of these [historical] areas.  For example, when the Plainfield Historical Society partnered with Plainfield Schools and took third graders on a walking tour, we received many comments of surprise at the number of historical sites that exist in Plainfield.  In order to have successful historical preservation, it is important that the GO TO 2040 plan emphasizes the importance of preservation, where possible and appropriate, in order to maintain our community identities.  A community like Plainfield is a good model of the type of innovation that is possible when you get a group of passionate individuals on commissions.  Some communities do historical preservation really well, such as the City of Aurora and Kane County, where the municipal government has typically been supportive.

Q:  How does the GO TO 2040 draft connect to your community in terms of topics such as enhancing transportation options; increasing housing opportunities; addressing issues related to water, wastewater, stormwater, open space, and energy; the importance of density in future development; investment in education and workforce development?

A:  Community and municipal plans are important.  But in my opinion, boundaries are less significant when speaking of historic preservation because history occurs regionally without respect to imposed borders.  As the GO TO 2040 plan shows, [many issues related to planning can occur] on a regional and global level, even as we try to refine our [local] communities.  The balance between historic preservation and our existing communities is relevant; historic preservation is not only about keeping the best of a particular time, but rather maintaining the representation of some of the best thinking of each period so that the major developmental trends in the life of a community are preserved and integrated into the continuing community story.  It is unfortunate when the past is eradicated for the sake of contemporary development.  Oftentimes we see subdivisions naming a street in honor of a historical site, but the actual site is destroyed instead of making an effort to save it. 

Elected officials need to support these preservation efforts and create innovative programs to celebrate history and our historic resources on their original sites instead of moving them to another location, as is often the case.  Instead of allowing historic places to be encountered by our residents as part of their daily routine, buildings that are artificially assembled in museum-like parks become an attraction, to which residents of the community must be enticed to visit.  These often result in only a small percentage of the local population having contact with those historic places.  The bottom line is that the Chicago metropolitan region is one of the greatest areas, and we need to allow each community to have its own sense of place.  As a region, we have tremendous potential to be tourist-friendly with enough distinctive places that are connected.  We should connect our communities by bike and mass transit so that all our livable communities -- with their unique historic resources -- are integrated into the greater region.

Q:  Identify an issue that is important to you personally, your community or our region and share how you think CMAP is addressing it in the plan.

A:  In many ways, historic preservation promotes positive impacts for the regional economy and environment.  As the GO TO 2040 plan highlights, these are areas of importance to our region and should be enhanced in the future.  Economically, historical preservation demands more creativity in order to retain community character.  It also employs specific trade skills in order to restore sites.  People from across this country and the world want to visit authentic American places.  Respecting and promoting our historic sites can be a significant tool for regional economic development.  Even in today’s slowed economy, we find that heritage tourism is still highly ranked within the industry.

Q:  Are there additional recommendations for our region as we continue with the GO TO 2040 plan?

A:  There are several strategies that can be employed to promote historic preservation throughout the region.  The first is education, where elected officials, community residents, and students can learn more about the history of their communities.  Part of the education effort is to ensure adequate funding of programs that promote education; we see increasing demands being placed on the limited resources of existing programs of volunteer-based organizations.  Local ideas that have successfully promoted education about our history include the restoration of building facades in Plainfield; cell phone tours in Aurora; tours of locally-important buildings and places; and collaboration with local schools. 

The second strategy is employing local preservation ordinances that are understood by our elected officials and that actually protect historic buildings and sites.  There is an impression that restoring buildings and places yield no economic return, but it’s simply not true.  Many people have grown tired of malls; we have seen the growing trend of “lifestyle malls” that attempt -- sometimes very successfully -- to replicate the qualities of our historic downtowns.  Integrating historic preservation with the changing face of our communities as we grow in population has proven to be a successful community development strategy in many regions.

Q:  Please share any additional thoughts, ideas, or comments you may have.

A:  Historic preservation should not be the last consideration when reviewing proposed development plans within our communities.  Too often, that strategy dooms the success of creatively integrating history into contemporary places.  Evaluation of and thoughtful consideration of the adaptive use of our historic places is not only environmentally responsible in many cases, but also serves to retain identifiable communities that stand out.  CMAP should have this at the forefront of implementation efforts for the GO TO 2040 plan. 

This is not to say that every building can be saved, but rather that everyone needs to be honest about the value of the historic resources in our communities and work cooperatively to protect community identity.  Unfortunately, preservation options are often discussed at “the midnight hour” because projects have been planned without consideration of preserving our historic buildings.  Once the threat is realized, advocates are often unfairly criticized as trying to stop a project at the last minute “when it is too late.”  Portrayed often as obstructionists, most preservationists are consulted only at the point when time is limited and information must be transmitted quickly… often with the inability to counter months of organized efforts on the part of those who do not value our historic resources.  In reality, many local preservation organizations have well-informed members who could provide valuable insight if included early in the development process. 

As a regional agency, CMAP should, in my opinion, help define historic preservation on a regional level to empower preservation efforts.  It would also be advantageous to make use of our scenic byways like Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, or the I&M National Heritage Corridor to strengthen the connectivity between our region’s communities.  I would like to see our region’s communities talking more with each other about their preservation efforts; I see that now with communities collaborating between the Des Plaines River and the Fox River, some west suburban communities, and some eastern Will County communities.  But, municipal planners and governments need to be more involved with and aware of these collaborative efforts as well. 

Historic preservation should be integral to the planning process and should be thought of from the beginning, not as an afterthought.  By working with organizations like Landmarks Illinois and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, as well as local commissions and societies, historic preservation can have a timely voice in the regional and local community planning process.

by Lindsay Banks
6/21/10

Volo Bog Boardwalk, by Irina Hynes

This shot was taken in Volo Bog by Irina Hynes. Volo Bog is an example of unique habitat that has been protected in order to preserve biodiversity.  Located in western Lake County, Volo Bog has been protected since 1958 through efforts of The Nature Conservancy and local citizen activism; it is currently a National Natural Landmark.

A bog is a wetland formed by the accumulation of dead plant material, usually moss.  The resulting acidic peat creates a biologically diverse and very sensitive habitat.  This bog is significant because it exhibits all stages of bog succession, and boasts a wide variety of plant and animal life. On the Department of Natural Resources website, Volo Bog boasts that it is the only "quaking" bog in Illinois to have an open water center.  In a quaking bog, the vegetation creates a layer about a foot and a half thick, that floats over water or very wet peat.  Volo Bog's Visitor Center offers educational programs, trails, and picnicking.

Read more about the preservation of parks and open space in our strategy paper or in the draft GO TO 2040 plan section on expanding and improving parks and open space (opens PDF).

Our Flickr Photos of the Week are chosen from theExplore Northeastern Illinois photo pool.  Submit your photos today!

Regional Review of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Northeastern Illinois

The Regional ARRA Recovery Council completed a report on the status of select Recovery Act programs and their impacts in our region.  Unprecedented amounts of data are publically available through the Recovery.gov site, as well as through the State of Illinois’ Recovery website.  This report summarizes the data to provide a snapshot of implementation and describes key observations, successes, and challenges for programs related to workforce, housing, and energy and weatherization. The report also includes recommendations for consideration to address challenges and support successful program implementation.  The report includes both a quantitative summary of recipient reporting data and a qualitative descriptions provided by the Regional ARRA Recovery Council.

by Lindsay Banks
6/15/10

On Friday, June 11th, the streets of Chicago were temporarily transformed into a sea of red for the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Celebration parade.  With an estimated 2 million fans, Chicagoans from around the region were united around a sports team, for a few hours - until the afternoon Cubs / Sox game.  Our Flickr photo of the week (from the Explore Northeastern Illinois pool) did a great job capturing the event:

Our Flickr Photos of the Week are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool.  Submit your photos today!

Economic Recovery Update newsletter transition survey

Since October 2009, CMAP along with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC) has been sending bi-weekly newsletters with updates and analyses of select American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) programs, with a focus on region-wide and suburban initiatives.  These newsletters, which are also be posted on CMAP's Recovery blog, are meant to provide useful information on funding announcements, collaboration efforts, and tracking of where and how stimulus funds are being spent in the region.  Council members who are experts on energy, weatherization, job training, and housing programs (the RACC focus areas), as well as the Governor's office, contribute to these updates, providing unique and timely information.  In addition, the updates cover important developments and news on stimulus spending in other areas, such as Transportation, health care, education, and activity at the state level.

CMAP plans to transition this bi-weekly Recovery Act newsletter to a monthly one with an expanded scope.  The new version of the newsletter will include topics on policies and programs related to the region's GO TO 2040 plan.  Information on the Recovery Act will continue to be included, as well as additional program and policy news and funding opportunities that relate to the four themes of theGO TO 2040 plan: Livable Communities, Regional Mobility, Human Capital, and Efficient Governance.  The Recovery blog will also transition to include policy news that relate to the GO TO 2040 plan.
 
To ensure the newsletter is most useful, please answer a few multiple choice questions to help us meet your needs. Thanks!

View the latest regional Economic Recovery Update, produced by CMAP in partnership with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC).  Be watching for it every other Wednesday, and click here to sign up for CMAP email updates.

Chicago Region Retrofit Ramp-up update

CMAP continues to work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Chicago Department of Environment to begin implementation of the Chicago Region Retrofit Ramp-up (CR3) program.  Originally the project proposal included a $75 million budget, so the first important step was to rework the budget to meet the $25 million award size.  This detailed summary of CR3 provides information on the scope, goals, and objectives.  We will begin releasing request for proposals later this summer.  If you would like to receive email notification for future CMAP RFPs, please visit our sign-up page.  In addition, CMAP is has a job opening for a CR3 project manager.  For more information, we've put together a list of frequently asked questions that will be updated periodically as the project moves forward. 

by Lindsay Banks
6/7/10

CMAP's Monday Flickr photo from our pool is a nice shot of a CTA train at the Washington / Wells station in downtown Chicago, taken by Flickr user señor_codo. Public transportation is a very important asset in our region, and a new report by the American Public Health Association released earlier this year called The Hidden Health Costs of Transportation makes this ever more obvious. 

I'm Feelin' The Ol' School, Chicago, by Flickr user señor_codo.

From the executive summary:

Our dependence on automobiles and roadways has profound negative impacts on human health: decreased opportunities for physical activity, and increased exposure to air pollution, and the number of traffic crashes. The health costs associated with these impacts, including costs associated with loss of work days and wages, pain and suffering, and premature death,may be as high as several hundred billion dollars.

The report recommends a major overhaul of our nation's transportation policies, especially by including some of these hidden costs in the evaluation of capital projects. The report also estimates the cost savings of implementing urban design policies to create walkable neighborhoods, with street connectivity ranking highest in effectiveness (after distance to central business district).  GO TO 2040 also recommends taking a comprehensive approach to planning policies when thinking about future growth. The Preferred Regional Scenario advocates for more compact, mixed-use, livable communities with multi-modal transportation choices for residents, among other policy ideas.

by Anne Holub
5/2/10 

"JOAAP" by Flickr user istorija from our pool.

Our featured photo this week is of the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, long since closed, the plant is actually now a part of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie located outside in Joliet, IL in Will County.  It operated during the 1940s to supply ammunition and explosives during World War II, and was officially closed in 1993, though most production ceased in the late 1970s.  The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was established in 1995 and continues to grow as land, once a part of the Army's arsenal land, is transferred to the park. I like how the prairie is taking over this structure, and the capture of the weathered wood beams alongside the rapidly greening spring plants.  To learn more about Midewin and to plan a visit, check out their website.

by Diana Torres
5/26/10

Environment Team: (left to right:) Thomas Maloney, Christopher Tomaszkiewicz, Marilyn Janisch, Lynda Lopez (2008-2009 FLIP Alum), Safiyyah Cole, Kathryn Starasinich, Johni Cesario (2008-2009 FLIP Alum), Paula Yoder (2008-2009 FLIP Alum), Alyssa Plahm

On April 20, the 2009-2010 cohort of CMAP’s Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) youth leadership development program presented their final projects at the National Museum of Mexican Art . CMAP Board members and leadership staff saw great presentations that tackled planning issues from a youth perspective. Students have collaborated on projects that uses their knowledge and information presented to them over the course of the program (since September 2009) to create a project that fulfills a need within our region’s communities.

Each of the five groups of students has a specific project aligned with their area of focus including: transportation, housing/land use, economic development, human services, and environment. This week we present the final presentation for the environment group.

As expressed in the GO TO 2040 preferred Regional Scenario, “water...[is] a critical natural resource preserves the overall ecological health and diversity of the region” and the region should strive to “provide recreation options and protecting ecosystem function, and to conserve natural resources. This requires increasing the resources devoted to protection of an open space network, designing communities to meet environmental goals, taking a proactive approach to both supply and demand for energy and water.” The students in the environment group created a solution to this important issue with their program, “Operation Native Plants.” Through a year-long program, Operation Native Plants would provide volunteer opportunities for high school students to partner with community nurseries to add native plants to areas of new development areas. Not only would students also benefit from learning about the environment and what native plants contribute, but the region would be able to conserve more water by promoting the increased use of native Illinois plants.

Read the environment team’s final project [PDF].

About FLIP: FLIP is offered free of charge for our region’s high school students interested in learning about and contributing to a better future for our region. CMAP is currently seeking applicants for next year's program. To apply for the 2010-2011 cohort, please complete the FLIP application [PDF] by Friday, May 28, 2010; you can also forward this information to any potentially interested high schoolers (or their families and teachers).