Project Overview

The Village of Wilmette’s Neighborhood Storage Project is the largest capital improvement project in Wilmette history. This multi-award-winning project significantly transformed the quality of life on the entire west side of the Village, providing flood protection for 98% of residents that had experienced flooding. The CBBEL team was involved in all four phases of this decade-long project, providing design services, assisting in public outreach and coordination across involved agencies and stakeholders. 

To provide the needed flood relief, the Village installed 14.4 million gallons of underground stormwater storage at three prominent parks and five miles of storm sewer under streets throughout the west side of town. The design of each park facility was based on saving trees, re-creating the park with better drainage and facilities and minimizing the impacts to adjacent residents and schools. The size and configuration of the underground Stormtrap vaults were the first of their kind in Illinois, including the vault with the largest number of pieces (Community Playfield – 2,300 pieces) and the tallest vault (Hibbard Park – 15 feet tall).