PrairieWalk Pond Lisle, IL Hybrid of Native Vegetation and Traditional Landscape Design Scott Kuykendall, Planning Resources Inc.
Awards 2011 Chicago Wilderness Conservation & Native Landscaping Award for exemplary use of native landscaping, ecosystem restoration and protection and/or conservation design 2011 International Economic Council Excellence Award for The Redevelopment of Downtown Lisle 2009 Illinois Association for Floodplain & Stormwater Management (IAFSM) Mitigation Award
Lisle: Arboretum Village Southwest Corner of Ogden Avenue & Route 53
Pre-Existing Conditions
Downtown Needed Revitalization Primary driver was need for revitalization and economic development Floodplain and flooding major obstacles Flood mitigation to manage stormwater and promote economic development
Floodplain On-Site River
Regional Stormwater Basin Village Goals: Purchase floodplain homes Create detention & comp storage outside of downtown Build gateway to downtown
Purchase of Properties 26 properties purchased (2005 2007) Total cost $3.6M 23 properties used to build basin and improvements Remaining properties for commercial development
Basin Service Area Service Area 22.5 acres Detention Storage 7.8 acres Compensatory Storage 9.4 acres
OSLAD Grant 2008 $400,000 grant & matching funds PrairieWalk Pond Opening 2010 Dragonfly Landing Opening 2011
BMP Basin Plan Overflow 2 acre pond 8 depth, 3 million gallons Designed to maximize flow path Vegetated Safety shelf Aeration fountains Outlet Inlet
Enhanced Wetland Degraded wetland and drainage swale on-site Corps permit for swale Wetland preserved and integrated into design Preserved Wetland
Enhanced Wetland Degraded Wetland 2007 Enhanced Wetland Today
Enhanced wetland 2009 Plugs planted and protected Today Diverse species Treats runoff Wildlife Habitat
General View of Shoreline Planted safety shelf 5:1 slopes typical Native vegetation clusters Several stone terraces Walking path Planted Basin Slopes 8-0 Pathway Basin 3-6 Planted safety shelf
Shoreline Vegetation & Rock Outcrops Shoreline protection, water quality, habitat Early problems establishing emergent species Vegetation now well established
Native-Landscaped Hybrid Collaborated to develop a design merging traditional landscape architecture principles with the ecological values of our native habitats The result was a native-landscaped hybrid using native plants in an organized pattern
Clustered Native Plantings Not a prairie restoration with diverse species Single species planted together in clusters Provide sense of structure and uniformity Mulch to delineate clusters
Clustered Native Plantings Native species selected for: Habitat Seasonal Color Aesthetic Appearance Height
Planted with Live Plugs Plugs to provide: Immediate establishment uniform appearance Herbivory fencing to protect plugs
Purple Coneflower Species grouped together to create defined cluster
Grass-Leaved Goldenrod
Obedient Plant
Black-Eyed Susan
Stiff Goldenrod
Arrowhead and Pickerelweed
Dragonfly Landing Playground Native plantings and nature themes Gateway View
Dragonfly Landing Playground playground equipment and splashpad follow the theme of ponds, forest and nature
Green Roof LiveRoof hybrid installation system Provides continuous planting bed No additional maintenance
Native Vegetation and Nature Themes in Downtown Lisle Renovated and pedestrian friendly Planters, fountain and landscaped walkway Ice Cream!
Educational Signs Natural features provide educational opportunities 5 signs provide detailed information Pose questions with answers on website
How is the Native-Landscaped Hybrid Performing?
Flood of 2013
Native Vegetation Recovered
Native-Landscaped Hybrid Benefits: May be more acceptable for general public in an urban setting Resilience to environmental conditions Provide multiple benefits: aesthetics and ecosystem services Weed control simplified in mulch
Native-Landscaped Hybrid Special Considerations: Limited use of controlled burns Monoculture less adaptive to environment Monoculture more susceptible to infestation & disease Must control both native and non-native to maintain landscaped appearance Need management by experienced staff
Native Weeds On-Site
Natives Provide Wildlife Habitat!
PrairieWalk Pond
Thanks! Scott Kuykendall Senior Ecologist Planning Resources Inc. 630-688-3788 scott@planres.com