The Northside Park Restoration & Flood Mitigation was initiated by the Wheaton Park District to rejuvenate the historic park, providing it with a much-needed facelift and performing essential maintenance on the lagoon. This multi-phased project involved the restoration of the existing lagoon, extensive earthwork, landscaping across the park, and the demolition and construction of new bridges and docks. Material removed from the lagoon was used to expand the on-site sledding hill, while tree clearing and the demolition of an old maintenance building improved visibility and accessibility. In addition, the project replaced the overflow weir, bridge abutments, and constructed seven bridges and new stone paths throughout the park to enhance its aesthetic appeal and functionality.

The most significant challenge during the project was managing the flow of Winfield Creek to deepen one of the lagoons and restore its shoreline. To address this, we installed a temporary bypass channel and pumps to divert water from entering the work area. Bridge installation required the use of heavy cranes, which we scheduled during the winter months to minimize damage to the park grounds. The project also withstood a 100-year storm event, which caused the entire park to flood and affected our bypass channels. Despite these challenges, we successfully completed the project on time. Additional work included the installation of coffer dams to enable access across the ponds, allowing us to replace the overflow weir and complete a bridge that connected to an island within the park.