Chicago Is Transforming an Abandoned Railway Into a 1.8-Mile Elevated Nature Trail
The city purchased the abandoned elevated railway in 2018 and a final design for the Englewood Nature Trail is expected in the coming weeks
Credit: Chicago.gov
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Chicago's Englewood Nature Trail will transform a 1.75-mile corridor into a community hub with parks and gardens
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The project emphasizes urban agriculture, public art and job creation while connecting homes, parks and gathering spaces
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Construction is set for 2027 to 2029 with $26 million in funding from city and federal sources already allocated
The city of Chicago is transforming a previously underutilized railroad corridor into a lively, community-driven outdoor space.
After years of meticulous planning, Chicago is moving forward with the Englewood Nature Trail, a 1.75-mile multi-use path on the city's South Side. The trail will extend east to west from Wallace Street to Hoyne Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets. When completed, the path will cross 26 viaducts and connect homes, gardens and gathering spaces throughout Englewood.
After extensive public input from the community, the Chicago Plan Commission adopted the “Green Healthy Neighborhood Plan,” which will guide the project to serve as the spine of an urban agriculture district.
The history of the corridor dates back to 1917, when the Pennsylvania Railroad created an elevated railway to serve industrial businesses near 59th Street, according to the city's website . However, trains have not operated on the railway since the early 1960s.
In 2018, the city acquired the corridor land — totaling more than 17 acres — from the Norfolk Southern Railroad. In spring 2022, the city allocated $6 million in phase one design funding. That summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $20 million in grant funding to support the design and construction.
“An expansion of trails and open spaces is sorely needed across our neighborhoods to benefit existing residents and for the city to achieve health, economic, climate and transportation goals,” then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at the time, per the Trust for Public Land .
In August 2024, the Chicago Plan Commission formally adopted the Englewood Agro-Eco District Land Use Plan . The proposal places an emphasis on creating public parks, agricultural sites, neighborhood commercial centers, small and local production buildings, housing and mixed-use development.
“In addition to connecting neighborhood assets as a community center piece, the trail will create a natural environment for native plant species, serve as a platform for public art and provide a regional asset where management and maintenance provides new employment opportunities for the community,” the plan says.
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Department of Planning and Development are leading the project and have hosted public meetings in an effort to share updates and receive feedback on the project.
According to a public hearing in March attended by the Active Transportation Alliance — a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to better public transit — final design guidelines are expected to be completed in the coming weeks. The CDOT will host a meeting in the winter to present the final design.
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Construction is expected to occur between 2027 and 2029.
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