Orchard That Fights Flooding

They just broke ground on a new community orchard in Garfield Park — but this isn’t just about fruit trees. Designed to fight flooding on the West Side, the project turns ten vacant lots into a vibrant hub for gardening, socializing, and climate resilience. Born from 2015 community meetings about extreme weather, it uses green infrastructure like trees and rain channels to manage stormwater and protect homes. Targeting neighborhoods hit hardest by heat and flooding — and often lacking tree cover — the orchard builds community while tackling environmental injustice. Priced at $2.2 million, it’s funded by city dollars and local nonprofit fundraising, with planting set to begin this fall and completion expected by summer 2027. A powerful blend of nature, neighborhood, and resilience. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2e241c685d80d60d