Naperville Park District Receives Grant from Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Naperville Park District has been awarded $785,308 through a GIGO (Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities) grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to support the development of a permeable paver parking lot at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, located at 811 S. West Street.

The GIGO Program funds the construction of green infrastructure projects using best management practices that prevent, eliminate or reduce stormwater runoff. As part of a multi-year plan to improve the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, the Park District will install a permeable paver parking lot at the site, replacing the existing gravel lot.  In addition to supporting the garden plots program, the parking lot is used extensively by visitors to the athletic fields at Knoch Park.  Permeable pavers are designed to gradually filter stormwater into the lot’s underlying subbase, which will reduce flooding in the watershed and along the West Branch DuPage River.

“We are grateful for the IEPA’s grant to support this project and help to improve the local environment,” said Executive Director Brad Wilson. “Implementing green infrastructure throughout the District is important in managing natural resources in an overall more efficient manner.”    

In addition to the GIGO grant the Naperville Park District also received $60,000 from DuPage County to support the project.  The Park District currently has permeable pavers featured at other locations including Knoch Knolls Park and Seager Park. For more information on the site improvements at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, visit www.napervilleparks.org/gardenplotsiteimprovements.