Naper Settlement Construction Paves a Greener Path

The is open for business this summer as it continues to make environmental upgrades to its grounds.

The Settlement is in the process of installing permeable pavers around the grounds and in parking lots, said Donna DeFalco, marketing and sales representative for the Naper Settlement. The installation of the permeable pavers will help the facility address flooding and stormwater issues on the grounds as well as improve water quality.

As construction is under way at the Naper Settlement, tours of the Martin Mitchell Mansion will continue and the Settlement museum remains open to visitors, DeFalco said. Other weekend activities continue to be offered, including Settlement Sundays where ice cream comes free with a visit.

The new permeable pavers that are being installed will allow the stormwater that collects on the grounds to percolate through varying degrees of rocks and pebbles, helping to clean the water of impurities before it returns back into the DuPage River watershed, DeFalco said

Over the last 42 years the pedestrian paths, which also serve as roads, on the Settlement have been comprised of a variety of materials from crushed stone to asphalt, according to a news release from the Naper Settlement.  In addition to installing the pavers, the access roads will also be widened during the project.

Along with using the interlocking permeable pavers, the Naper Settlement will use cisterns and rain barrels on the site as a means of catching stormwater, according to the release.

“This fits in with our preservation mission and also will help to conserve our natural resources,” said Debbie Grinnell, director of preservation services, in a news release. “This is an important infrastructure improvement we needed to build toward the museum’s long-range plans.”

DeFalco said that the pavers being installed in the Century Memorial Chapel’s parking lot are photo-catalytic and, basically, eat the smog and emissions from cars, helping to filter the air. The parking lot is expected to be completed by June 30.

The construction began June 1 and part of the project should be completed by July 15 with the remainder finished in September, DeFalco said.

Grants from county, state and federal funding sources including the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency will support more than 8 percent of the total project costs, which is estimated at $2.3 million, according to a news release.

In addition to the grants, the city of Naperville, the Naperville Heritage Society, Tellabs Foundation, Nicor, Wight & Co. and the DuPage Community Foundation also are providing funding.