Cicero Plans to Construct Green Alleys as Residents Call for Flood Prevention Action
After the July 2023 rainstorm that impacted Cicero residents, the Town of Cicero offers upgrades on residents’ alleyways that reduce flooding via a petition. However, some residents aren’t aware of this opportunity.
Reynalda Grajeda outside her home on the 1800 block of 51st Ave that will undergo green alley construction. Patty Escareno/ Cicero Independiente
By Aydali Campa
The Town of Cicero is planning to construct 14 green alleys designed to reduce flooding, a persistent issue Cicero residents deal with during rain events.
The project is part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago’s stormwater management program, which uses various stormwater control measures, including green infrastructure, to reduce flooding.
According to MWRD, Green infrastructure is natural or semi-natural systems that help reduce flooding and runoff pollution by holding rainwater where it falls. These systems include rain gardens, rain barrels and permeable pavement.
The 2024 Green Alley Paving Project comes after the town experienced a particularly intense rain event in the summer of last year, leaving many residents with flooded alleys and homes. About 7,000 residents reported damage to their properties after more than eight inches of rain fell from late June to early July in Cicero.
Close-up of permeable pavement blocks of a green alley on the 2100 block of S 49th Ave in Cicero, Ill. April Alonso/ Cicero Independiente
According to a January Cicero Town Board meeting, the board announced that the town plans to update two alleys to start this project: the 1800 Block between 51st Avenue and 50th Court and the 1900 Block between 51st Avenue and 50th Court. With this improvement, the town aims to retain 27,900 gallons of stormwater per rain event.
The project, so far, has an estimated cost of $355,000 for the 2024 Green Alley Paving Project, with the MWRD covering about 50% of the costs, according to the January Cicero Board meeting agenda.
Cicero Independiente reached out to the Town of Cicero spokesperson for comment about updates regarding this year’s project, but they did not respond.
Many residents expressed frustration to Cicero Independiente with the Town’s recovery efforts, calling for better communication and transparency with the public about its intentions to prevent flooding and plans for recovery from last year’s heavy rainfall.
Some residents continue to grapple with expensive property damage and the loss of personal items as a result of the storms to this day.
Humberto Mora near his garage that floods when it rains due to backsplash from cars moving through the alley. Mora’s block will undergo green alley construction on the 1800 block of 51st Ave. Patty Escareno/Cicero Independiente
Humberto Mora, a resident of Cicero, said he notices flooding in his alley during storms and that cars often splash water into his garage when they drive through the alley.
“I have to move my trash bin by the garage to divert the cars,” said Mora.
His neighbor, Javier Rodriguez, said he is frustrated that the city is not responding to his requests to address flooding in his block.
“It’s always the same,” said Rodriguez.
Another neighbor, Natalia Padilla, has owned her house for 21 years and says the alley behind her home gets flooded even with light rain.
“I am not sure if we need to gather signatures to change the alley,” she said. Padilla said she wasn’t aware of the Green Alleys program and that her alley is next in line to be transformed into a green alley this year.
During a Stormwater Advisory Board meeting on May 7, the board said four green alleys have already been constructed in Cicero.
According to documents obtained by Cicero Independiente through the Freedom of Information Act, two green alleys were built in 2019 to retain about 40,830 gallons of stormwater per rain event and another two in 2020 to retain 43,813 gallons of stormwater.
This year, the town aims to bring as many as 14 new green alleys, with financial support from the MWRD Partnership Program, the federal Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG), the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Tax Increment Financing funds (TIF). According to an agenda from a July Stormwater Advisory meeting, the town is currently securing funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Juan Zendejas, a resident who has owned his house in Cicero for seven years, is still working to address the damage done to his basement last year. It flooded during last summer’s heavy rain events for the first time since buying his home.
Zendejas said he is interested in nominating his alley to be turned into a green alley. He hopes the program helps address the need he sees for more green infrastructure in Cicero.
“The town needs to be upgraded,” he said. “If you look around, it’s a lot of concrete.”
To have a green alleyway in your block, talk to your neighbors about requesting the Town of Cicero to construct a green alleyway and gather signatures to show their support. However, according to the board during the July Stormwater Advisory meeting, petitions are only for consideration when the town selects a green alleyway location.
Using this template, write a letter to the town explaining why you want a green alley, gather the collected signatures and submit both to the town clerk on the first floor of the Cicero Town Hall building at 4949 W. Cermak Road. A town engineer will then go to your alley and conduct an assessment. The town will prioritize alleys based on flooding needs. You can email Maria Punzo-Arias at marias@thetownofcicero.com with questions or concerns.
Aydali Campa is a bilingual environmental justice reporter based in Chicago. She has written stories for Inside Climate News, The Wall Street Journal and The Arizona Republic.
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