We are pleased to announce Downers Grove is the recipient of the 2025 Jane Foulser Habitat Award. Downers Grove has demonstrated an exceptional and long standing commitment to environmental and conservation actions which began over a decade ago and will continue into the future under the guidance of a new comprehensive sustainability plan.

In 2012, Downers Grove created a stormwater utility to address local flooding. It included green infrastructure such as rain gardens, permeable paving and bioswales. The popular Bioswale Program is an innovative approach for addressing runoff and water quality through a public/private partnership with homeowners. The program converts existing roadside drainage ditches into beautiful and beneficial pollinator-friendly landscape areas at no cost to the homeowner. It begins with a collaboration between Village staff and the homeowner on the selection of site-appropriate native plants. The Village then prepares the site, purchases and installs the plants and provides routine maintenance, including mowing and weeding, for the first year. Ten bioswales are installed each year with 40 people currently on a waiting list.  

The Village of Downers Grove converted turf to prairie at the Belmont Metra Station underpass in anticipation of how it would require less maintenance, save money, reduce emissions and provide habitat for pollinators. Within a year, monarchs, butterflies, bees and hummingbirds were regular visitors.

The Downers Grove board, staff and residents recently came together in support of the next step in their sustainability journey by passing an Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). The comprehensive plan is a blueprint for reducing the village’s “ecological footprint” with native plant landscaping, new natural areas, increased biodiversity of parkway trees, active transportation, clean energy resources and green infrastructure.

The Village is leading by example with its new Civic Center. The building is energy efficient and has solar panels on the roof and carport capable of offsetting 20 to 25% of the electrical load. Permeable pavers, a green roof and several rain gardens reduce run off. The landscaping was certified by Conservation@Work and provides food and shelter for butterflies and pollinators.

The conservation of native plants and wildlife figures prominently throughout the ESP with several recommended actions for 2025 – 27.  The Village will identify property that would benefit from naturalization, look for ways to improve the biodiversity of parkway trees and land that is directly managed by the Village and evaluate existing policies to identify necessary updates to comply with Dark Sky Community Guidelines. Qualifying as a Dark Sky Community will benefit nocturnal moths, some of the least visible and most under appreciated pollinators.

Every person has an ecological footprint. Shrinking individual footprints is at the core of becoming a more sustainable community. The ESP encourages residents to join the collective endeavor by taking the voluntary A Greener Way Pledge. There are several ways an individual can contribute to the community’s sustainability, one is by reducing the amount of lawn and adding native flowers, shrubs and trees.

Downers Grove’s culture of environmental and conservation stewardship keeps the Village on course as a pollinator-friendly community and supports a sustainable future.