Milwaukee's Grasslyn Manor neighborhood is set to receive much-needed flood mitigation support after the Common Council passed a resolution to accept grant funding. Alderman DiAndre Jackson, who sponsored file #241018, emphasized the project's aim to pinpoint sources of inflow and infiltration to grant those residing in the area some respite from persistent flooding. "The purpose of the project is to identify sources of inflow and infiltration, and set the stage to offer relief to the residents of this area who have dealt with the issue of flooding for far too long," Alderman Jackson stated in the City of Milwaukee press release. He also recognized the proactive engagement of Grasslyn Manor's residents in the mitigation process.
Community leader Steve O’Connell, having endured the flooding in their back yards, spoke about the impact on neighborhood quality of life, indicating a new course of action that has emerged driven by collaboration. The local committee, along with Alderman Jackson and GreenPrint Partners, have put forth a series of proposals to manage the floodwaters, aiming for a drier future. "The neighbors who call Grasslyn Manor home have been inundated by basement flooding, back yard flooding and street flooding for many years. With the assistance of Alderman Jackson and the consulting expertise of GreenPrint Partners, the neighborhood committee of engaged residents have pulled together a series of suggestions designed to address and manage the water that courses underneath the yards and streets. We all look forward to a year of study and problem solving in the future that will lead to dry basements, yards, and flowing street sewers during large rain events," O'Connell explained in the City of Milwaukee release.
The grant comes from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and falls under the Private Property Inflow and Infiltration program. It sets forth an initiative marking a year of expected study and strategizing to tackle the underpinnings of the flooding issue. While the exact amount of the grant was not disclosed in the City of Milwaukee press release, the adoption of the resolution signifies a green light for the beginning of these efforts.
Residents of Grasslyn Manor, who are eager to see the results, will play a key role in the project. Flooding has been a long-standing issue in the neighborhood, damaging homes and infrastructure. With the grant now secured after Tuesday's council decision, attention is turning to how the project will be carried out to finally stop the cycle of water damage. The council is expected to release more updates as the project progresses.
