City of Des Plaines Officials and staff gathered at 10 AM, September 25, 2012, to recognize the completion of another “Green” alley, off Cora Street.  The newly paved alley marks the City’s efforts launched in 2008 to reconstruct alleys with environmentally friendly permeable concrete that absorbs water, precluding runoff and assisting with flood prevention.   

To date the following alleys have been reconstructed with pervious surfaces, which contains no sand or silt, but rather a cement and water aggregate:

2009-Campbell Avenue/Algonquin Road, Center Street to Cora Street Thacker Street/Oakwood Ct, Northwest Place to Thacker Street 2010-Elm Street/Illinois Street, Everett Avenue to Riverview Avenue Oakton Street/Riverview Avenue, Cora Street to White  Street Oakton Street/Riverview Avenue, White Street to Linden Street Oakton Street/Riverview Avenue, Linden Street to Orchard Street 2011-Campbell Avenue/Algonquin Road, Center Street to West Dead End Laurel Avenue/Graceland Avenue, Willow Avenue to Evergreen Avenue Laurel
Avenue/Graceland Avenue, Evergreen Avenue to South Dead End Washington Street/Brown Street, Western Avenue to Laurel Avenue 2012-Ashland Avenue/Oakwood Avenue, Center Street to Cora Street Ashland Avenue/Oakwood Avenue, Cora Street to White Street

According the City’s Public Works and Engineering Department, the reconstruction to date represents approximately 15 blocks of alley.  Cost for installation of the pervious surface is $100,000 per block, with a cost savings of approximately $50,000 per block, as the
installation of the state of the art surface precludes the need for a storm sewer.  The pervious surface can accommodate up to 4 inches of rain. The General Contractor for the alley construction work is Schroeder
Asphalt Service. 

Present Tuesday to preview the completed Cora Street
alley project were Mayor Martin J. Moylan, 2^nd Ward Alderman John “Jack” Robinson, 4th Ward Alderman Dick Sayad, 6^th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten, City Manager Michael Bartholomew, Director of Public Works and
Engineering Timothy Oakley, and Assistant Director of Public Works and Engineering Jon Duddles.