Environment
The Carol Stream Park District is committed to doing our part to help tackle climate change. Green initiatives by the park district include:
42 acres of land have been protected with the creation of Red Hawk Park. The river tributary running through this site has 20-acre buffer of native plants to protect downstream waters. The district has also converted a three acre storm water detention basin into a natural wetland area and another 35 acres of existing wetlands were improved and expanded in community park.
Water quality has been improved with shoreline restoration projects at Lake George and Evergreen Lakes Park. The restoration, which includes native plant buffer zones, protects the shorelines from erosion and pollution, creates wildlife habitats and beautifies the area.
The district has converted 20 acres of lawn grass in parks into ‘no-mow’ areas with native plants and perennial beds. These drought resistant plant areas reduce the need for watering and maintainance, which also results in fewer emissions from gas powered mowers.
Energy use in Simkus Recreation Center, Evergreen Gym and the Kids Connection Preschool has been cut with the installation of low energy CFL lighting. A CFL bulb uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
The quarterly program guides now use less paper and require less energy to print due to changes in printing methods. The greener guides now feature fewer pages, recycled FSC certified paper and soy inks, which use fewer chemicals than standard inks.
The district built purple martin habitats on Balog Island in Armstrong Park. The houses are now home to the largest purple martin colony in the county.
