The 606

The 606 takes Chicago’s legacy of great parks to new heights. This Northwest Side project transformed nearly 3 miles of unused rail line into the elevated Bloomingdale Trail while linking ground-level neighborhood parks.

Aptly named for the 606 zip code prefix all Chicagoans share, The 606 is both an urban oasis and a new way to explore Chicago on trails for biking, running, and strolling while creating alternative transportation avenues to and from schools.  As a trail, The 606 connects communities and attracts visitors from throughout Chicago and beyond.

Trust for Public Land helped acquire the land, raise funds, and organize community participation and design. What began as a series of community meetings and design workshops with neighbors, local leaders, and designers led to an exciting framework.

“The Bloomingdale Trail and connecting parks [are] a distinct and user-friendly open space, and calling the system The 606 [draws] an immediate connection between the system and the neighborhoods it serves,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “Whether you are a cyclist, runner, or student walking to school, The 606 [is] a great addition for all Chicagoans and a prime destination for visitors.”

More than 80,000 families, including almost 25,000 children, live within a ten-minute walk of The 606.