FAQ: The Bloomingdale Trail
What is The Bloomingdale Trail & Park?
What will the Bloomingdale bring to Chicago?
Where is The Bloomingdale?
Who is working on the project?
How much will The Bloomingdale cost and who will pay for it?
When will The Bloomingdale be complete?
What is The Bloomingdale Trail & Park?
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 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.
