Open Space Planning Gets Creative
The loss of open space in Chicago is not uncommon to other developing cities in the region and country as a whole. In these cases, planners have to expand on their outlooks in creating new open space opportunities. This may involve converting an abandoned railroad right-of-way to a bike trail, for example. Currently, the Chicago Park District is looking at proposals which may have been overlooked as “open space” projects, but when treated a bit more as untraditional ideas of open space can really add benefits to a community that may be seeing less and less green and open areas.
One such project involves a 3-mile former railroad track, the Bloomingdale Line. The trail runs through Bucktown, Logan Square and Humboldt Park and can offer much needed trails for bikers, walker, and runners. The trail is interesting because it is 15-feet above the ground so people using the trail can travel safely in a linear way through the neighborhoods while getting a rare “bird’s-eye view” of the communities they pass through.
CNT works to make communities more walkable and the Bloomingdale Trail proposal is a great way to keep our neighborhoods more accessible to all sorts of travelers. Check out CNT’s website, Walker’s Win for information on CNT’s work at making communities more walkable and livable.
