Depave Chicago

Yesterday Chicagoans felt the humidity, the heat, the lightning, and the intense rainfall that accompanied it. Depave projects are especially relevant to intense weather events for frontline communities in the Westside and Southside that don’t have the appropriate green infrastructure to manage rain events.

Rain gardens, a climate design strategy often utilized in depaving, are implemented to reduce stormwater/control runoff, filter pollutants prior to entering waterways, reduce urban heat island effect, and cool surrounding homes and neighborhoods.

Learn more at depavechicago.org!

(Image credit: Chicago Tribune)

T-2 days until Depave Chicago’s second webinar and lucky for you there is still time to register at depavechicago.org! Still not convinced???

Check out these videos of a recent depave event we attended in Portland, OR by . After the pavement was pre-cut, a team of volunteers used pry bars to lift, smash, and dump the asphalt into collection bins to be removed. Depave days are full of camaraderie, music, and joy via the safe oversight of trained crew leaders. Come help us help you make the world a greener place.

To learn more about the next physical step in the process, register here at www.depavechicago.org and come with any questions you may have. We hope to see you soon!

After the legendary 1995 that killed hundreds, Chicago assessed projected future temperatures and estimated future heat related mortality. Under the Chicago Climate Action Plan adaptation to extreme heat events was declared paramount.

Most recently high temperatures at the UK’s Luton Airport melted the runway which could have had catastrophic consequences for landing aircrafts. Identifying urban heat island prone-areas of concern and implementing diverse reduction strategies saves time, money, and human lives.

Depaving and planting sites is an opportunity to reduce the impact of extreme heat through green infrastructure in the city’s most vulnerable areas as climate change progresses. Know of any parking lots, corridors, or vacant city blocks in the south or west side that could get “cooled”? Head on over to Depavechicago.org and tell us all about it by completing our site proposal form!

(Image credit: BBC News London Luton Airport resumes flights after runway repairs)