'Massive Opposition' Sways Western Springs Board

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — The red signs on yards through Western Springs' Ridgewood subdivision had a simple message: "No Rain Gardens in Ridgewood."

The residents' protests led Village Board members this week to back away from their plan to install rain gardens as a way to reduce flooding.

Residents thought the rain gardens — which are ditches where plants absorb rainwater — would make the neighborhood less attractive and wouldn't solve the problem in any case.

But village officials liked the gardens because they were a cheaper way to reduce flooding and aligned with the village's plan for more green infrastructure.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Trustee Al Fink, chairman of the village's public works committee, said the panel concluded the village should give up on rain gardens in Ridgewood.

"Early on, I thought it was a fantastic idea, anything to slow down the flow of water," Fink said. "I saw what they did in Hinsdale. Unlike a lot of residents in Ridgewood, I thought it looked nice, but it's not my area. It's not my front yard."

Village President Alice Gallagher noted the opposition.

"If you take a drive through Ridgewood, you see a lot of red signs, certainly indicating a majority of residents don't want rain gardens," she said. "Certainly, if residents don't want them, we won't force them to have it. This is just one less tool in the toolbox to help us address flooding in Ridgewood."

Trustee Nicole Chen said she preferred natural approaches to flooding such as rain gardens.

"I see the massive opposition, so I will concur with the committee," Chen said. "I'm disappointed because this looks like one tool in the tool box that was more cost-effective and natural."

Trustee James John, a Ridgewood resident, said he was already getting text messages from happy residents watching the video of the virtual meeting when Fink announced the committee's recommendation.

"It was strong feelings here," he said, praising how the neighborhood's handled the issue.

Casey Biernacki, the village's assistant director of municipal services, said the rain gardens would have provided a minor benefit for the entire community. To make them effective, he said, "We have to implement them through all of our future projects."

The village is considering more expensive flooding improvements to Ridgewood, which is in Western Springs' far southwestern corner.

Last month, Ridgewood residents expressed their opposition at a Village Board meeting.