• May 8, 2013 - Keven and Jennifer visited Washington, D.C.  to speak with legislators about Green Infrastructure Legislation, Transportation Enhancement Legislation, the Urban Park Bill, and small business issues.  

• March 15, 2013 -  Pat HIckey, our Senior Ecologist, is now a Professional Wetland Scientist(PWS).   A PWS must have specific educational experience in addition to required wetland related professional experience.   Congratulations Pat, nice job!
• March 5, 2013 -  Wheaton, IL - The public comment period for adoption of the revised DuPage County Countywide Stormwater and Flood Plain Ordinance (Ordinance) will take place from March 5 through March 25, 2013. 

• Persons within DuPage County involved in development activities, stormwater permit submittals or permit review may be interested in reviewing the proposed changes and providing comment.  The DuPage County Stormwater Management Planning Committee and County Board will review and consider all appropriate comments prior to adoption of the Ordinance revisions.   The ordinance revisions are available online at:

www.dupageco.org/EDP/Stormwater_Management/Regulatory_Services/1420/

• March 1, 2013 - Did you know that Senators Max Baucus(D-MT) and Richard Burr(R-NC) have introduced S. 338, The Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2013 ,which would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at no additional cost to taxpayers.  Landscape architects across the country access LWCF funds to plan and design local parks, trails, and other critical recreational facilities that help communities live healthier lifestyles, provide economic development, and create  local jobs, A national study by the Outdoor Industry Association documents that outdoor recreation activities generate $646 billion in consumer spending and about 6.1 million direct jobs. 

• February 20, 2013 - PRI has an excellent track record in assisting communities and park districts by creating grant worthy projects through creative design, public facilitation expertise, and narrative development.  We have provided these grant preparation and documentation services for more than 15 years.  Check out our track record below.  (2012 grants have not been announced)

 Our dedicated staff is available and eager to assist in meeting your application deadline. 

GRANTS RECEIVED   

   · 2011 - New Lenox Community Park District 

 

    Heather Glen Park Facility - Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources -      

    PARC

 

   · 2011 - City of Country Club Hills -

 

    Provincetown Pool Facility -  Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources - PARC 

 

  · 2010 - New Lenox Community Park District 

 

    CountryView/ Royal Meadows Park - IDNR OSLAD Grant

 

  · 2009 - City of Rock Island 

 

    Douglas Park, Illinois Dept. Of Natural Resources -OSLAD

  · 2009 - Village of Minooka

    Wapella Street Community Park, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources     - OSLAD

 · 2008 - Park District of Franklin Park

    Franklin Park Pool, Illinois Dept. Of Natural Resources -OSLAD

 · 2007 - Park District of Oak Park

    Longfellow Park, Illinois Dept. Of Natural Resources -OSLAD

 · 2007 - Village of Lisle

   Garfield Park, Illinois Dept.  of Natural Resources

 · 2006 - New Lenox Community Park District

 

   Birch Park, Illinois Dept. Of Natural Resources

 · 2006 - Frankfort Park District

   Main Park, Illinois Department of Natural Resources - OSLAD

 

 · 2006 - Environmental Protection Agency - 319 Grant

 

    Metra Commuter Lot Drainage –Centennial Park-Orland Park

 

  · 2005 - Village of Algonquin - OSLAD

 

     Ted Spella Park - Illinois Department of Natural Resources

 

 · 2005 - City of Chicago and Chicago Park District

 

      Brentano Math & Science Academy - Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources    -  OSLAD  

 

  · 2005 - Lemont Township

 

     Heritage Woodland Sanctuary - Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources     OSLAD

• February 6, 2013 - PRI attended the IAPD/IRPA Show, Soaring to New Heights on January 24th-26th, 2013.  Thanks for stopping by to see us!

• Tuesday,November 6, 2012  - Planning Resources Inc. is certified as a small Disadvataged Business Enterprise (DBE). 

• Monday,November 5, 2012 - Planning Resources is pleased to welcome Scott Kuykendall, LEED AP.  Scott joins the PRI team with  more than 20 years of experience in natural resource managment,  ecology, sustainablilty, engineering, construction and environmental regulations. Scott makes a great addition to our team.  Welcome, Scott!   

• On May 21, 2012 Steve Halberg and Jennifer Graham again attended the IAPD Golf Outing at Settler's Hill in Batavia where PRI sponsored a hole and played "Beat the Landscape Architect."  This game helped raise money for the Friends of Illinois, a nonprofit fund raising arm of IAPD established to involve citizens in IAPD's mission to preserve land and expand recreational opportunities for youth after-school programs.    

• May 2012 - Keven Graham and Steve Halberg were in Washington, DC for advocacy meetings with legislators.  While there, they met with Senators Durbin and Kirk.  They also spoke with Congressman Roskam along with Congressman Schock's office and discussed the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act  which will allow states, localities, and other qualified entities to receive grants to plan, design, and implement green infrastructure projects that will address stormwater management and other water quality and quantity issues.  They additionally spoke to them about the Transportation Bill that includes programs and policies that will create a national transportation network that safely supports all users, while also helping to create stronger communities. 

• April, 2012 - Brent Lewis is now certified as an Illinois Arborist.  Congratulations Brent!  
• March 16, 2012 - The American Society of Landscape Architects - Illinois Chapter held their annual Celebration at the Museum of  Contemporary Arts.  Firms were recognized for their excellence in the field of landscape architecture.  PRI was acknowledged for both Longfellow Park in Oak Park, Illinois as well as DragonFly Landing & PrairieWalk Pond in Lisle, Illinois.  These awards exemplify the high quality of professional practice in Illinois and the broad spectrum of work in which landscape architects demonstrate leadership in design and enviromental planning. 

• January 31, 2012 - PRI hits the papers.  Please follow the links below to read more. 

 Wheaton Firm Awarded for Designs that Benefit Surrounding ...
The Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape ArchitectsILASLA recently announced that two designs by Wheatonbased firm Planning Resources Inc ...
wheaton.patch.com/.../wheaton-firm-awarded-for-designs-that...

• December 23, 2011 - It's official!!  DragonFly Landing and Prairie Walk Pond have won another award.  This is the fourth award for the site and PRI is very proud and excited to have played such a great role in this project.   This award is the 2011 Environmental Stewardship Honor Award from the Illinois Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects.  Congratulations again to the Village and all who worked so diligently to make this such an enjoyable site!
• In addition to the above, PRI won a 2011 Merit Award from the Illinois Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects for Longfellow Park in Oak Park, Illinois for the Design, Constructed: Recreation & Open Space Category.  Congratulations to the Oak Park Park District along with Darrell Lori and Ryan, well done!! 
• October 27, 2011 - PrairieWalk Pond and DragonFly Landing has done it again!! The project has been selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness for another award.  The 2011 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award recognizes sites that are exemplary in the use of native landscaping, ecosystem restoration and protection, and/or conservation design.  These practices create and protect habitat for a variety of native plant and animal species and result in important environmental benefits for both people and nature.  For this site, PRI transformed a 100-year floodplain from 21 single-family homes and three vacant lots to a landscape rich in native habitat and biodiversity.  Together with the Village of Lisle, our team protected the habitat with a 20 year built-in maintenance plan and inspired public education with monthly tours and visible sustainable features.  Congratulations again to all who worked on this project.  Well done!!   

• On September 28, 2011, the Village of Lisle received Three "Excellence in Economic Development " Awards from the International Economic Development Council for:  The Redevelopment of Downtown Lisle-Multi Year Economic Development Project, Green By Choice - Sustainable & Green Development, and The Arboretum Village Video - General Purpose Promotion.  Congratulations Darrell, Brent and Juli along with all who worked with the Village on PrairieWalk Pond and DragonFly Landing. Great job!!  

• Steve Halberg and Jennifer Graham were on the golf course at Poplar Grove Country Club in Hoffman Estates on September 20, 2011.  We played beat the Landscape Architect for a $5 contribution to the Friends of Illinois Scholarship Fund raising $330.00. It was great to see everyone and thanks for the contributions. 

• The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Cultural Arts Staff had a ground breaking ceremony for Gaelic Park on July 27, 2011.  The park is expected to be finished by the end of the year.  Landscaping and a ribbon cutting ceremony are set for this spring.

        Gaelic Park Ground Breaking Ceremony with kids

 AWARDS  

•  March 2011- The Village of Montgomery received the Native Landscaping Award from the EPA and Chicago Wilderness.  This award recognized exemplary natural landscaping, conservation and sustainable development projects.   Montgomery was recognized for the development and facilitation of the Naturalized Stormwater Management Facility Design and the Planting and Management Design Guidelines prepared by PRI.  Congratulations!!   

•  March 2011-The Carrington Reserve Residential Development was selected by the EPA and Chicago Wilderness for a 2010 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award.  The award recognized the use of design techniques to reduce runoff, treat storm water and promote ground water recharge to sustain high-quality fen and wet prairie habitats.   PRI developed the sustainable master plan including construction documents.  Congratulations!!  

• PRI receives a 94 in Past Perfromance Evaluation Rating, placing us in the Top Quintile for Management Consulting Services.  Our top score was under Personnel.  The attitude, courtesy and professionalism of PRI staff received a  98.  The lowest score received was a 94.  The information gathered was supplied by an outside consulting firm and the ratings were based on survey feedback from past customers.  A special thanks goes to our employees for all of their hardwork and dedication.    

GRAND OPENINGS  

 Illinois EPA Awards Grants for Stormwater Mangement Program

Springfield—Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim announced the award of nearly $5 million in Green Infrastructure Grants designed to reduce the amount of pollution running into Illinois waterways from stormwater sources.

Applicants applied for grant awards in three categories: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Rehabilitation; Stormwater Retention and Infiltration; and Green Infrastructure Small Projects. The list is attached.

“These projects will help improve the quality of the Chicago River by preventing nearly 2 million gallons of storm water, and the pollutants that storm water carries with it, from entering the river each year,” Governor Quinn said. “Recently, we announced that two new facilities will be built to disinfect discharges into the river, and today we are building on our commitment to return the Chicago River to recreational use.”

Green Infrastructure Grants are another one of the Agency’s tools to control stormwater pollution in Illinois,” said Director Kim.  “Well over half of the impairments to Illinois waterways are due to nonpoint source and stormwater pollution and it comes from many different sources.”

Nonpoint source pollution occurs when runoff from rain and snowmelt carries pollutants into waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and even groundwater. When rain hits the ground and flows across streets, parking lots, yards, construction sites, farm fields and golf courses, it picks up litter, oil, grease, metals, rubber, dirt, fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste, and other things left behind by people, automobiles and animals depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and underground sources of drinking water.

Green infrastructure” means any storm water management practice with the goal of preserving or restoring natural hydrology. Green infrastructure includes methods of using soil and vegetation to promote soil percolation, evapotranspiration and filtration, and involves the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features, such as forests, floodplains, headwaters, and wetlands.

The $5 million in grants will result jobs for installation of green structures by construction workers and the trades, as well as to create work for professional engineers and public works staff designing Best Management Practices and developing and submitting permits, and construction oversight. Congratulations to all! Click here for a link to recipients.

SESC - Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Information