Village Hall Best Management Practices Project
Bannockburn, Illinois

As the Village Engineer, GHA assisted the Village in the design of a project that included a variety of Best Management Practices to reduce the quantity and velocity of stormwater discharging off the Village Hall property. The project was designed to improve water quality by reducing runoff into streams, filtering out pollutants, and recharging groundwater supplies, as well as controlling flooding and erosion.

The project consisted of stabilization of 700 linear feet of existing unvegetated drainage swales, construction of permanent rock check dams, wetland restoration, and creation of two rain gardens.

GHA services included preparation of engineering plans, construction and bid documents; bid tabulation and review; IEPA 319 grant application; presentations to the North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed Group, and the students and faculty at the Bannockburn Grade School; preparation of educational materials; and on-site construction supervision.

Willow Road 24" Watermain Replacement
Northfield, Illinois

Prior to the advent of the Lake County Watershed Development Ordinance, Ferndale Woods Subdivision was originally constructed in 1960. Based on historical flooding information, portions of the subdivision improvements filled in areas inundated by the base flood, and was in a state of disrepair. Despite a re-subdivision of the area in 1971 and installation of an underdrain system in the early 1980s, several areas continued to experience persistent ponding of water. In response, GHA prepared a three-phase plan including replacement of the outfall pipe, modifications to the roadside drainage system, and installation of a series of rain gardens to increase infiltration and enhance stormwater quality.

GHA’s services included preliminary and final engineering plans, a successful grant application to the Lake County Watershed Management Board, construction layout and observation, and contract administration.GHA also coordinated with LCSMC, USACE and residents to secure permits and prepare easement documents.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Rain Gardens
Glenveiw, Illinois

Funded in part by a Section 319 grant, this site development project utilized green engineering design techniques to satisfy a historical detention requirement. Ten rain gardens were constructed on the Parish grounds to provide the required detention. The rain gardens were planted by students, parents, teachers and volunteers, and are tended by the Parish community. In a truly innovative approach, an additional 3 acres of Loyola Academy West Campus was restored with native prairie plants, receiving a credit of 0.23 acre-feet of storage required per acre of native plantings.

GHA’s work included design of the original concept development, construction document preparation, rain garden design, and construction observation. GHA also coordinated with the Village of Glenview and construction team and made required reports to the Village.

Vehe Farm Site Restoration and Rehabilitation
Deer Park, Illinois

Funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Village of Deer Park purchased the historic Vehe Farm. Their intent was to provide a community center and recreational facility featuring the history of local farming and the essence of the original prairie.

The Village, The Vehe Foundation, and GHA created a site plan to include a youth soccer field, functional stormwater management facility enhanced with native wetland plantings, future community center, walking paths, and a parking facility to accommodate both the Village Hall and Community Center.

GHA provided conceptual planning, presentations at public meetings, IDNR grant preparation, permitting assistance, plat of easement preparation, preliminary and final engineering, hydraulic stormwater modeling and stormwater report, construction layout, and construction observation.