Chicago soon to boast new greenway for pedestrian and bike travel

The Windy City is about to get much greener, literally. City officials plan to direct around $290 million towards the restoration and expansion of the city’s parks system over the next five years. The program will support completion of more than 800 projects, to include building of astounding recreational areas, parks and green spaces in various neighborhoods around Chicago.

One of the most anticipated projects in this series, the Bloomingdale Trail, involves the remodeling of an abandoned elevated rail line atop Bloomingdale Avenue on Chicago’s northwest side into a multi-use recreational park. Expected to be a stunning example of urban renewal, the trail will stretch 2.7 miles and will accommodate both pedestrian and bike travel. And the views will be magnificent, too.  It will connect six existing and planned parks adjoining the old railway along with the neighborhoods of Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park and Bucktown.

The project is expected to improve the lives of thousands of Chicagoans that will have a green alternative to use as route to work or school. Groundbreaking for the elevated rail-turned-park is scheduled for next year, with construction expected to be complete by fall 2014.

“Chicago is a world-class city and under Mayor Emanuel’s leadership, the Bloomingdale Trail will be a world-class addition to the city’s park system,” said Beth White, Director of The Trust for Public Land’s Chicago office that is part of the public-private partnership overseeing the development of the project. “Chicago is also about neighborhoods and the Bloomingdale will tie together some of the city’s most exciting and diverse neighborhoods. Building this transformative public space takes a public-private partnership and it is wonderful to see Chicago’s generous corporate leaders stepping up to this effort, including Exelon, CNA, and Boeing.”

Here are some additional improvements planned by the City of Chicago, as part of the five-year program:

• 180 acres of new acquisitions impacting 100,000 residents
• 100 “Slam Dunk” basketball court renovations impacting
• 150,000 youth ages 13-19 12 new parks or major park developments impacting 300,000 residents
• 20 new playgrounds impacting 100,000 children ages 2-14
• 8 new artificial turf fields impacting 50,000 youth under age 18
• 6 new community buildings impacting 220,000 residents

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