The Park Forest Department of Public Works encourages residents to practice "Salt Smart" strategies during this winter to promote environmental stewardship while ensuring safety on roadways and walkways.

The Salt Smart Collaborative is a resource hub, providing information and tools for residents, public agencies, and private snow removal companies. The initiative aims to unite individuals and organizations to tackle the escalating effects of chlorides—common de-icing agents—on the surface and groundwater supplies.

Public Works Director Roderick Ysaguirre emphasized the department's commitment to environmental responsibility during winter maintenance activities. He noted that his crews are proactive in monitoring their salt usage to avoid the negative impacts of over-salting or excessive chloride application. Furthermore, Ysaguirre highlighted the importance of residents playing an active role in this environmental effort by understanding and implementing smart salting techniques.

"According to Salt Smart Guidelines, you typically need about 12 ounces of salt—approximately the amount that can fill a standard coffee mug—to effectively de-ice a 500 square foot driveway or about 10 sidewalk squares," explained Ysaguirre. "Residents are encouraged to use this amount of salt to start with, observe and monitor results, and spread any additional salt as needed for safety."  

Ysaguirre continued, "It's essential to distribute the salt evenly, targeting only the areas that require de-icing, rather than spreading it uniformly across the entire surface. This approach ensures safety, conserves resources and protects the environment."

To further engage the community, Ysaguirre announced that residents are welcome to visit the Department of Public Works counter located on the second level of Village Hall. There, they can pick up a free Salt Smart cup that can be used to rethink the amount of salt used. The cup is filled with key information about best practices for winter salting. The materials provided will include educational resources on sustainable snow and ice management methods that can help protect the environment while ensuring safe access during winter weather conditions.

"Overusing salt can lead to several detrimental effects," Ysaguirre cautioned. "It can contaminate our drinking water supplies, threaten local wildlife, exacerbate soil erosion, and potentially cause long-term damage to private and public infrastructure." 

Ysaguirre concluded by expressing his hope that, through the dissemination of this knowledge, both the Department of Public Works and the community can make informed and conscientious choices that benefit everyone.