McKinley Park Neighborhood Plan

A low-lying topography, changing climate, development and associated impervious surfaces, and an aging sewer infrastructure contribute to urban flooding within McKinley Park. Beyond the direct costs of property damage from flooding — carpets, furniture, and heating units — there are less direct costs; residents may lose valuable memorabilia, there are health and safety risks to children, seniors, and animals, and street flooding can damage parked cars and may hinder residents from traveling to work. To address this issue, MPDC should encourage neighborhood groups within McKinley Park to work together on implementing green infrastructure practices that reduce the heat island effect, mitigate stormwater, block traffic noise, and improve air quality. A multi-pronged approach would include applying for grants and citywide programs that provide green infrastructure guidance and materials, working with the alderman’s office to identify areas for key spot improvements, and educating the public on the importance of sustainability and how they can change individual behavior. These efforts will undoubtedly have a long-term, positive impact on McKinley Park.

There are a number of excellent green infrastructure programs in the city that can serve as resources to MPDC and the residents of McKinley Park as they consider ways to address climate change. The plan recommends that MPDC further explore and prioritize the following initiatives and programs with support from the local alderman:

• Chicago Downspout Disconnection Program: The City of Chicago actively encourages homeowners to disconnect their downspouts from the sewer system in order to slow the flow of stormwater into the sewer system, relieve basement flooding, and redirect water to yards and gardens. This practice should be encouraged in McKinley Park where flooding is a concern.
• Plant Chicago: Plant Chicago is a nonprofit organization that supports a collaborative community of small food businesses focused on growing, producing, and/or sourcing a variety of food products, while striving to close loops of waste and energy. Located in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, just south of McKinley Park, Plant Chicago offers a variety of different K-12 education programs that revolve around sustainability and food production. They are also home to a robust farmers market that provides locally grown food.
• RainReady: This is a Center for Neighborhood Technology program that helps property owners and communities implement infrastructure improvements to address sewage backup, seepage and building dampness, and yard and street flooding. RainReady programs are designed with equity, affordability, resiliency, and community in mind.
• Chicago Tree Program: In an effort to increase the amount of trees in the Chicago region, the Bureau of Forestry plants trees along the public right-of-way throughout Chicago. Benefits of street trees include improved air quality, increased physiological well-being, noise abatement, and stormwater attenuation. Chicago property owners who want a new tree planted on their parkways can call 311 or submit a request online to register for this free city service. 
• Streetscape and Sustainable Design Program: The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Streetscape and Sustainable Design program strives to rehabilitate Chicago’s neighborhood commercial areas, riverwalks, and bicycle facilities into active, attractive places for Chicagoans to live, work, and play. Using a variety of techniques, projects under this program aim to create flourishing public places while improving the functionality of infrastructure to support dense urban living.

Other Strategies

• Advocate for the targeted expansion of green stormwater infrastructure to reduce urban flooding
• Engage the community in flood mitigation solutions
• Create a youth-led neighborhood litter and recycling campaign
• Ensure clean energy and water efficiencies by connecting landlords to incentives and resources
• Implement sustainable practices in industrial areas (see Chapter 6 for strategies)
• Identify opportunities for urban agriculture
• Empower residents and organizations to create artistic, beautiful landscapes, and clean, environmentally diverse streetscapes (see Chapter 5 for strategies)