Chicago Green Alley Initiative
Richard M Daley, Mayor – City of Chicago
Cheri Heramh, Acting Commissioner – DOT
2007

The Chicago Green Alley Initiative is a refinement of Chicago’s existing program which focused on creating permeable surfaces over 1,900 miles of alleyways. This new program focuses on using permeable pavement to reduce stormwater runoff, selecting high albedo pavements to reduce urban heat island effect, and using recycled materials such as concrete aggregate, slag, and recycled rubber. Additional components being implemented in this process include dark sky-compliant light fixtures, naturalized detention areas, bioswales, vegetated swales, and proper grading and pitch to the applied asphalt.

These new conditions are an example of what can happen at the city level to provide a greener outlook to paving, stormwater runoff, and sewer issues that Chicago has been dealing with for decades.