Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR), in partnership with the Village of Elk Grove Village, is proud to announce that the Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management project has earned two industry awards in 2026, recognizing its innovative approach to public works management, environmental restoration, and stakeholder engagement.
The project received a 2026 Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-Illinois) and a 2026 Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Management Innovation category from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Chicago Metro Chapter – Suburban Branch.
Reimagining Drainage Management at an Unprecedented Scale
Elk Grove Village is home to one of the nation’s largest contiguous business and technology parks, serving more than 5,600 businesses and over 100,000 daily commuters. Maintaining the park’s 30 miles of open-channel drainage ditches, many located on private property, has long posed logistical, environmental, and communication challenges.
When the Village partnered with HLR in 2024 to relaunch the drainage management program, the goal extended beyond infrastructure maintenance. The mission was clear: deliver effective stormwater management while building trust with hundreds of adjacent businesses, without disrupting daily operations.
Engineering Transparency Through Innovation
HLR responded by designing a first-of-its-kind, GIS-based public engagement and management platform. Using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps, and customized ArcGIS Dashboards, the team created a real-time digital ecosystem connecting Village staff, contractors, and the business community through a single, transparent source of information.
Three tailored dashboards, serving Village staff, contractors, and businesses, allowed users to track work locations, view progress, receive updates, and submit concerns in real time. This innovative approach transformed routine maintenance data into a powerful communication tool, replacing years of fragmented outreach with clarity, responsiveness, and accountability.
Delivering Results Without Disruption
The program delivered measurable results. During the 2024 season, crews completed four invasive species herbicide treatments across the entire system, totaling approximately 120 miles of maintenance activity. More than seven miles of ditches underwent woody vegetation removal, followed by the installation of 2,650 pounds of native seed to improve drainage performance, stabilize soils, and enhance ecological resilience.
Equally important, the project was completed on time and within budget, with no reported business shutdowns or operational delays; a critical success factor within one of the country’s busiest industrial corridors.
A Model for the Future of Public Works
The dual recognition from ACEC-Illinois and APWA highlights the project’s success in redefining how complex public works programs are managed and communicated. By engineering transparency alongside infrastructure, HLR and the Village of Elk Grove Village set a new standard for stormwater management, public engagement, and municipal partnership.
As the program continues through 2026, the Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management project stands as a replicable model for municipalities nationwide, demonstrating that innovation, environmental stewardship, and trust-building can work hand in hand.
We look forward to celebrating these achievements with the Village of Elk Grove Village at the upcoming ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards Gala and the APWA Chicago Metro – Suburban Branch Awards Luncheon.
Timelapse of HLR Restoration crew clearing a creek in Elk Grove Business Park in July 2025.
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