On Monday evening, the Skokie Village Board of Trustees approved design and construction engineering services for the construction of three new green alleys in 2024.
What is a green alley? Skokie’s green alley design includes permeable pavers between two concrete ribbons over a large volume of stone. This design filters stormwater runoff and promotes groundwater recharge, which reduces the burden on our sewer system, reduces the urban heat island effect, and improves air quality by allowing the earth below the green alley to breathe.
The Village is working to finalize a partnership with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to support the project as part of its Green Infrastructure Partnership Program.
Planned green alley locations in 2024 include:
- Alley between Suffield Court and Greenwood Street (Laramie Avenue to Gross Point Road)
- Alley between Lavergne and Bronx Avenues (Gross Point Road to Grove Street)
- Alley between Kenton and Kolmar Avenues (north of Lyons Street)
Once complete, the three alleys will allow for a combined storage of over 90,000 gallons of stormwater, allowing it to infiltrate the surrounding soil instead of entering the sewer system.
The Village identifies alleys for its Green Alley Program based on ongoing maintenance requirements, the alley’s drainage pattern, and available funding. Alleys that require significant Public Works resources, handle a high volume of traffic, and have lower potential for natural drainage are prioritized. The Village has constructed 10 green alleys over the last decade.