What if Addison Creek could tell its own story? It would begin with a tale of troublesome floods. For years, communities like Bellwood lived under the constant threat of overflowing waters. Homes and businesses faced repeated inundations. The Addison Creek Development Area needed a solution.
The Addison Creek Restoration Commission examined many options. Former Bellwood Mayor Frank A. Pasquale chaired it for several years. They looked for ways to alleviate flooding in Bellwood and nearby communities. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District stepped in to develop solutions. This $130 million project wouldn’t raise taxes for residents.
Many Bellwood residents lived in the Addison Creek floodplain. The Federal Emergency Management Association designated it as such. Mayors requested the Illinois legislature to create a commission. The commission would study the creek’s impact on seven communities including Bellwood. Their aim was to reduce the floodplain’s size. This would eliminate the need for mandated flood insurance. Property values would increase. Municipalities would face fewer costs from flood response and cleanup.
In 2015, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago started a flood control project along Addison Creek. The project focused on constructing a flood storage reservoir. This reservoir would hold nearly 200 million gallons. Channel conveyance improvements would stretch from Northlake to Broadview.
This project reduces overbank flooding damage. Approximately 1,679 structures along Addison Creek benefit. Bellwood residents experience significant relief without any cost to them. The MWRD constructed a reservoir just north of Washington Boulevard in Bellwood. Bellwood was the best location for the detention pond. Many village residents would be removed from the current floodplain. This results in lower insurance rates. There would be little to no standing water after it rains.
In 2023, the MWRD finished the reservoir construction at 2795 Washington Blvd in Bellwood. This $81 million reservoir includes a control structure, inlet structure, spillway, and pumping station. The $77 million channel improvement project increases conveyance. It widens the channel and removes restrictions. Channel improvements use natural design, gabion baskets, soldier pile walls, concrete, riprap, articulated concrete blocks, and native vegetation. The project also involves removing three bridges.
The reservoir received partial funding through a $5 million grant. This grant came from Cook County. It was a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program from HUD. Channel improvements benefited from a $9.9 million grant. This grant was from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security facilitated it.
The Addison Creek Reservoir and Channel Improvement project eases public health and safety concerns. It reduces overbank flooding to about 2,200 structures along the creek. This stretch is from Northlake to Broadview. Approximately 1,700 structures are removed from the floodplain. Properties within these six communities can qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
The reservoir and channel provide approximately $116 million in flood benefits. Flood reduction benefits are fully achieved when both projects are complete. These projects improve the quality of life. They enhance green space and include new walking paths. There are recreational opportunities for surrounding communities. Northlake, Stone Park, Melrose Park, Bellwood, Westchester, and Broadview maintain the channel improvements.
Ground was broken on the Addison Creek Reservoir in April 2019. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony occurred in August 2023. Construction on the Addison Creek Channel Improvements started in the summer of 2023. It is anticipated to be completed by the summer of 2026.
Today, the Addison Creek Reservoir stands as a testament to resilience. It showcases a community’s commitment to protecting its residents. The transformation is a reminder that even the most persistent challenges can be overcome with vision and collaboration.