What is the status of The Bloomingdale?
The project is on track for completion by fall of 2014. Phase I (engineering and preliminary design) is complete, with final Phase II design plans nearing completion. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2013.
A message about trespassing:
As we prepare for construction, The Bloomingdale is not open to the public. Please, don't trespass. Below is a recommended walking tour adjacent to the Trail. Follow the purple path and see some of the highlights of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Bloomingdale
WHAT IS THE BLOOMINGDALE?
The Bloomingdale takes Chicago's legacy of great parks to new heights. It's an elevated park that's transforming nearly three miles of old rail line on Chicago's northwest side. With trails for bikes and runners, it's both an urban oasis and a new way to explore Chicago. The Bloomingdale connects parks, people, and communities. What used to physically separate four neighborhoods now will knit them together. It is yet another Chicago icon that brings together innovation, green space, and the arts. It will change the way you see our city.
WHAT WILL THE BLOOMINGDALE BRING TO CHICAGO?
Building on the City's legacy for innovative parks, The Bloomingdale is the latest in Chicago's long line of world-class public spaces. It provides nearly three miles of much-needed open green space and links four diverse city neighborhoods with the elevated trail and five neighborhood parks. The Bloomingdale also brings vital community benefits: fostering economic development, public health, safety, and a litany of environmental, transportation, and community benefits. Recognizing the value of increasing access to open spaces, Mayor Emanuel has called for the creation of 800 new parks, recreation areas and green spaces throughout Chicago over the next five years - and The Bloomingdale is one of his plan's signature projects.
WHERE IS THE BLOOMINGDALE?
The Bloomingdale stretches 2.7 miles along Bloomingdale Ave. (1800 N), beginning on the east at Ashland Ave. (1600 W) and continuing west to Ridgeway Ave. (3732 W). The project connects four ethnically and economically diverse Chicago neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park and Logan Square.
WHO IS WORKING ON THE PROJECT?
The project manager is The Trust for Public Land, the nation's leading organization focused on creating parks and preserving land, especially urban park space. The Trust for Public Land is the project's leading private sector partner, managing the project on behalf of the Chicago Park District. The Trust for Public Land oversees civic engagement, fundraising and stewardship of The Bloomingdale in partnership with the Chicago Park District and various City of Chicago agencies. The completed project will be funded through a mix of federal, state and local funding, as well as private and corporate philanthropy.
HOW MUCH WILL THE BLOOMINGDALE COST AND WHO WILL PAY FOR IT?
Preliminary estimates put the total cost at $91 million, a number that will be updated once the final design is completed. The team has already raised $46 million towards completion of the project, including $39 million in public funds and $7 million in private donations. The Bloomingdale's unique plan presents significant, creative donor recognition opportunities, and charitable gifts of all sizes will fund at least one-third of total project costs.
WHEN WILL THE BLOOMINGDALE BE COMPLETE?
Mayor Emanuel pledged completion of The Bloomingdale within his first term, and the first phase of project is on track for completion by fall of 2014. Engineering and preliminary design is complete, and final design plans will be released this spring. In January, the City of Chicago completed the transfer of land from the Canadian Pacific Railway, taking possession of The Bloomingdale's embankment and bridges. Groundbreaking is expected in summer 2013.
WHO IS HANDLING DESIGN?
Collins Engineers, Inc., a Chicago civil and structural engineering firm, was selected by the Chicago Park District on March 14, 2012 to provide Phase II design for the Bloomingdale Park and Multi-Purpose Trail project. The multi-disciplinary team includes Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) and Frances Whitehead. MVVA worked on the Phase I design for the project and will serve as the landscape and urban design architect. Frances Whitehead—internationally known as an artist-innovator, and producing cutting edge work that integrates art and sustainability—will serve as the lead artist for this project.
HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE BLOOMINGDALE?
Five new or renovated Chicago Park District parks will serve as access points for The Bloomingdale. Three existing parks will be upgraded to include paths up to the elevated trail: Walsh Park (1722 N. Ashland), Churchill Field Park (1825 N. Damen), Julia de Burgos Park (1803 N. Albany). And two new parks at Milwaukee and Leavitt (1803 N. Milwaukee) and Kimball (1813 N. Kimball) will be developed as new ground-level community parks and access points for the elevated trail. We also anticipate that the western trail head will be developed in cooperation with the adjacent McCormick-Tribune YMCA (3701 W. Cortland).
Additional access will be determined during design and engineering, including at least one location between Humboldt Boulevard and Western Avenue, with the target of having all trail users within approximately ¼-mile from an exit point.
WHAT IS NEAR THE BLOOMINGDALE?
The route intersects the Damen Avenue bike lanes, Milwaukee Avenue marked shared lanes, and signed routes on Humboldt Boulevard, Central Park Avenue and California Avenue, and provides access to the Elston Avenue bike lanes from Caldwell Woods to downtown and the Cortland/Armitage Avenue bike lanes to Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lakefront.
Within ¼ mile or so of the trail are Humboldt Park, CTA Blue Line stations at Damen and Western, the Clybourn Metra Station, two Chicago Public Library Branches, three small parks, four bike shops, and a variety of shops and restaurants on Ashland, Damen, Milwaukee, Western, California, Kimball, Armitage and North Avenues.
Students at Stowe Elementary (3444 W. Wabansia), Yates Elementary (1839 N. Richmond) and Moos Elementary (1711 N. California) can see the embankment from some classrooms or their schoolyards. Drummond Elementary (1845 W. Cortland), two playlots, and St. Mary’s of the Angels Church are within a block of the trail.
Updated April 2013
The Bloomingdale takes Chicago's legacy of great parks to new heights. It's an elevated park that's transforming nearly three miles of old rail line on Chicago's northwest side. With trails for bikes and runners, it's both an urban oasis and a new way to explore Chicago. The Bloomingdale connects parks, people, and communities. What used to physically separate four neighborhoods now will knit them together. It is yet another Chicago icon that brings together innovation, green space, and the arts. It will change the way you see our city.
WHAT WILL THE BLOOMINGDALE BRING TO CHICAGO?
Building on the City's legacy for innovative parks, The Bloomingdale is the latest in Chicago's long line of world-class public spaces. It provides nearly three miles of much-needed open green space and links four diverse city neighborhoods with the elevated trail and five neighborhood parks. The Bloomingdale also brings vital community benefits: fostering economic development, public health, safety, and a litany of environmental, transportation, and community benefits. Recognizing the value of increasing access to open spaces, Mayor Emanuel has called for the creation of 800 new parks, recreation areas and green spaces throughout Chicago over the next five years - and The Bloomingdale is one of his plan's signature projects.
WHERE IS THE BLOOMINGDALE?
The Bloomingdale stretches 2.7 miles along Bloomingdale Ave. (1800 N), beginning on the east at Ashland Ave. (1600 W) and continuing west to Ridgeway Ave. (3732 W). The project connects four ethnically and economically diverse Chicago neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park and Logan Square.
WHO IS WORKING ON THE PROJECT?
The project manager is The Trust for Public Land, the nation's leading organization focused on creating parks and preserving land, especially urban park space. The Trust for Public Land is the project's leading private sector partner, managing the project on behalf of the Chicago Park District. The Trust for Public Land oversees civic engagement, fundraising and stewardship of The Bloomingdale in partnership with the Chicago Park District and various City of Chicago agencies. The completed project will be funded through a mix of federal, state and local funding, as well as private and corporate philanthropy.
HOW MUCH WILL THE BLOOMINGDALE COST AND WHO WILL PAY FOR IT?
Preliminary estimates put the total cost at $91 million, a number that will be updated once the final design is completed. The team has already raised $46 million towards completion of the project, including $39 million in public funds and $7 million in private donations. The Bloomingdale's unique plan presents significant, creative donor recognition opportunities, and charitable gifts of all sizes will fund at least one-third of total project costs.
WHEN WILL THE BLOOMINGDALE BE COMPLETE?
Mayor Emanuel pledged completion of The Bloomingdale within his first term, and the first phase of project is on track for completion by fall of 2014. Engineering and preliminary design is complete, and final design plans will be released this spring. In January, the City of Chicago completed the transfer of land from the Canadian Pacific Railway, taking possession of The Bloomingdale's embankment and bridges. Groundbreaking is expected in summer 2013.
WHO IS HANDLING DESIGN?
Collins Engineers, Inc., a Chicago civil and structural engineering firm, was selected by the Chicago Park District on March 14, 2012 to provide Phase II design for the Bloomingdale Park and Multi-Purpose Trail project. The multi-disciplinary team includes Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) and Frances Whitehead. MVVA worked on the Phase I design for the project and will serve as the landscape and urban design architect. Frances Whitehead—internationally known as an artist-innovator, and producing cutting edge work that integrates art and sustainability—will serve as the lead artist for this project.
HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE BLOOMINGDALE?
Five new or renovated Chicago Park District parks will serve as access points for The Bloomingdale. Three existing parks will be upgraded to include paths up to the elevated trail: Walsh Park (1722 N. Ashland), Churchill Field Park (1825 N. Damen), Julia de Burgos Park (1803 N. Albany). And two new parks at Milwaukee and Leavitt (1803 N. Milwaukee) and Kimball (1813 N. Kimball) will be developed as new ground-level community parks and access points for the elevated trail. We also anticipate that the western trail head will be developed in cooperation with the adjacent McCormick-Tribune YMCA (3701 W. Cortland).
Additional access will be determined during design and engineering, including at least one location between Humboldt Boulevard and Western Avenue, with the target of having all trail users within approximately ¼-mile from an exit point.
WHAT IS NEAR THE BLOOMINGDALE?
The route intersects the Damen Avenue bike lanes, Milwaukee Avenue marked shared lanes, and signed routes on Humboldt Boulevard, Central Park Avenue and California Avenue, and provides access to the Elston Avenue bike lanes from Caldwell Woods to downtown and the Cortland/Armitage Avenue bike lanes to Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lakefront.
Within ¼ mile or so of the trail are Humboldt Park, CTA Blue Line stations at Damen and Western, the Clybourn Metra Station, two Chicago Public Library Branches, three small parks, four bike shops, and a variety of shops and restaurants on Ashland, Damen, Milwaukee, Western, California, Kimball, Armitage and North Avenues.
Students at Stowe Elementary (3444 W. Wabansia), Yates Elementary (1839 N. Richmond) and Moos Elementary (1711 N. California) can see the embankment from some classrooms or their schoolyards. Drummond Elementary (1845 W. Cortland), two playlots, and St. Mary’s of the Angels Church are within a block of the trail.
Updated April 2013
