Chicago Riverwalk
Article Posted: March 15th, 2024
The Chicago Riverwalk is one of the most famous and popular attractions downtown. During the summer months, thousands of visitors come to the river every week to take a stroll and enjoy the ambiance. Throughout the 2010s, the riverwalk underwent enormous renovations that made it more accessible to the public. Several architects, engineers, designers, and industry professionals teamed up to help elevate this historic area; and Halloran & Yauch, Inc. was honored to be a part of it. From around 2013 to 2018 Halloran & Yauch, Inc. worked along Chicago’s Riverwalk and installed multiple irrigation systems along the walking path. This project was conducted in three main phases that took nearly 5 years to develop.
Phase 1 consisted of working along the ‘Marina’, ‘Cove’, and ‘River Theatre' sections of the river. From State Street to LaSalle Street, multiple irrigation systems were implemented to help the grass & plants that grew along the river. Dozens of native trees were planted and each tree-pit is connected to an eco-friendly storm-water tank. This is vital in case Chicago experiences another summer drought due to excessive heat. Thankfully, H&Y understands this unpredictable issue and has come up with a solution. Each tank holds 2,000 gallons of rainwater which is an environmentally friendly solution to help save and re-purpose water. The rain-water harvesting system is connected to a control panel which allows the administrator to decide whether stormwater or city water should be used to help the trees grow. Using this method, the city saves thousands of gallons of freshwater every month.
Phase 2 entailed the ‘Jetty’ & ‘Water Plaza’ sections of the river. The ‘Jetty’ river block has floating wetlands to provide a habitat for the fish and other creatures that are capable of surviving in the river. This area allows the water quality to improve while also being a safe habitat for wildlife. Additionally, the ‘Water Plaza’ block has interactive fountains that make it a fantastic place for visitors to sit and admire the river’s beauty. Friends and families can run through the splash pads and cool off during the hot summer months. H&Y installed sprinkling and drainage systems that help over 60 different native plant species thrive. Native plant species were planted along the river to promote the natural environment that once stood long before Chicago’s urban development. Halloran & Yauch, Inc. installed a high-quality irrigation system that will allow the grass lawn, native plants, and trees to thrive for decades to come.
Phase 3 focused on improving the appearance of the land next to the riverfront. During this phase, H&Y restored the natural soil and sod after trenching and implementing the final systems. Final installations were put in, which were connected to a high-powered irrigation pump. This project wrapped up in 2018, and Halloran and Yauch, Inc. is very proud of the work that was accomplished and provided to our community.
Editor’s Note: If you’re ever in downtown Chicago for St.Patrick’s day, make sure to check out the iconic Green River and greenery along the riverwalk provided by Halloran & Yauch, Inc. Irrigation systems.
