Detention basin to mitigate flooding in area of North Chicago: ‘It’s a huge improvement’
Steve Sadin, a reporter with the Chicago Tribune and the Lake County News Sun wrote an article about the City of North Chicago’s most recent infrastructure improvement project: the Lewis Avenue Detention Basin. This multi-million-dollar stormwater management project will eliminate flooding for the homes and businesses located along 20th Street and Lewis Avenue. Read his story below:
By Steve Sadin | For the Lake County News-Sun
PUBLISHED: May 11, 2026 at 10:04 AM CDT
By early November, hundreds of homes and other buildings in North Chicago will no
longer be in danger of flooding every time it rains, and Neal Math & Science Academy
middle school will have an outdoor classroom when a nearby detention basin is
completed.
For decades, homes and other buildings near the intersection of 20th Street and Lewis
Avenue have flooded when it rains because all rainwater east of Green Bay Road moves
downhill into Lake Michigan.
When the work is completed this fall, heavy rains will flow into the basin and then slowly
drain within a day into the lake. North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said Friday it
will improve the lives of a lot of people.
“They will no longer have to go into the basement and lift furniture off the ground to
protect their possessions,” he said. “The children will have a place to learn about the
vegetation.”
Rockingham, elected officials and others involved with the project broke ground to start
the creation of a detention basin and passive park on May 1 near the intersection of
Lewis Avenue and 20th Street to prevent flooding in the area.
Greg Jackson, the city’s chief of staff, said the detention basin is the start of a series of
$55.7 million of infrastructure projects over the next few years. The city will pay $9.7
million while state or federal funding finances the rest.
Though the major purpose of the basin is to eliminate flooding in hundreds of homes,
Jackson said most of the time the area will serve as a passive park where people can sit
or explore.
Steve Cieslica, an engineer with Trotter & Associates Inc., which handles engineering for
the city, said the area around Lewis Avenue has long had flooding issues. After a rain,
water east of Green Bay Road drains into Lake Michigan, while on the west it goes into
the Mississippi River.
As homes were built in the area in the 1930s, 1940s and into the 1950s, Cieslica said
little attention was paid to water flow. Flooding was the result. Once the basin is
complete, rainwater will flow into it and then drain into Lake Michigan. Annual rainfall has
increased since then.
“The pond will drain in 24 hours,” he said. “It will go from blowing out people’s windows
to a little bit of water in the street. It’s a huge improvement.”
With the exception of the little bit of time the basin is draining rainwater, Cieslica said it
will be a park and an outdoor classroom for Neal students. The depth will be 10 feet.
There will be paths for people to follow and explore.
Cieslica said a special consultant was retained to help determine the best type of grass
to put at the bottom of the basin, along its sides and around the area on the top. It will be
like wetlands for the first few hours after a rain.
“It will become a passive park (most of the time), where people can explore and see
some of the wildlife,” he said, “There will be paths to explore. There will be pollinators
and different kinds of flowers.”
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, who was at the groundbreaking, also praised
turning a storm mitigation project into a place that can double as a park, which will offer
both recreation and education.“Walking trails and play areas further improve the neighborhood,” she said in a text. “I’m
grateful to the engineers and the city for always finding ways to go above and beyond in
these projects.”
Among other projects in the $55.7 million infrastructure effort is just over $23.2 million
for the reconstruction of Argonne Drive between Broadway and Natoma Avenue.
Jackson said that, along with rebuilding the road, water and sewer work will be done.
The Argonne project will be funded with $22.3 million in federal grant money, with the
city contributing about $1 million.
Another project will bring a water tower to North Chicago. Cieslica said it will be
compatible with the water tower at Naval Station Great Lakes, so the city and the Navy
can help each other if necessary.
“This will really stabilize the city’s water system,” he said. “It will be able to interact with
the Navy.”