Water District Approves Resolution Opening Land to Urban Farming
Resolution 24-0817 supports urban agriculture and calls on other local units of government to apply for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District programs to expand and support urban agriculture opportunities.
District programs include the Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, which can be a potential funding source for urban agriculture projects that meet MWRD’s stormwater criteria and the Real Estate program, which makes vacant District real estate available for lease to both commercial and governmental entities, including urban agriculture and community gardens.
“A recent report indicates that approximately 16% of Cook County households experienced food insecurity at some point. Urban agriculture has the potential to connect families with fresh, culturally relevant local produce. By encouraging urban agriculture on suitable MWRD property, the District is helping to move local families down the path to food security,” said Bona Heinsohn, CAE, Cook County Farm Bureau Director of Governmental Affairs and Public Relations. “Cook County Farm Bureau applauds the work of the District and Commissioner Cam Davis on this important issue and looks forward to the expansion of urban agriculture opportunities in the county.”
Given Farm Bureau’s Urban Agriculture policy, Cook CFB actively supported and provided public testimony in support of Resolution 24-0817, which was approved in September of 2024.