Bronzeville Trail Task Force Celebrates Progress on $100 Million South Side Transformation Project
TL;DR
The Bronzeville Trail project offers a competitive advantage by potentially inducing over $1 billion in investment and creating new economic opportunities for Chicago's south side.
The Bronzeville Trail converts a 1.75-mile abandoned rail line into a multi-use park through phased construction with a $100 million budget and workforce development programs.
This project creates a vibrant community space that reduces pollution, supports wildlife, and celebrates local culture while providing health benefits for south side residents.
A historic rail line built by black laborers during the Great Migration is being transformed into a 1.75-mile trail park celebrating Bronzeville's rich heritage.
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The Bronzeville Trail Task Force will host its third annual Installation and Awards Luncheon on September 12, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, celebrating substantial progress in transforming a long-abandoned rail line into a vital community asset. The 1.75-mile trail project, constructed partially by Black laborers during the Great Migration and neglected for nearly 70 years, represents a $100 million investment in Chicago's south side infrastructure.
John E. Adams, CPA, founder and executive director of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force, emphasized the project's significance, stating that the city's $5 million commitment last year has activated phase one construction. Adams projected that the trail "will prove to be the most catalytic and transformative project in the history of Bronzeville and may induce over $1 Billion dollars of investment." The trail will create a vibrant, sustainable community space supporting wildlife, reducing pollution, and celebrating local culture, history, and ecology.
This year's luncheon will honor several key supporters, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the first Black woman to hold the office and one of the first elected officials to support the project. Other honorees include Dr. Maria Villalobos-Hernandez, associate professor and Director of the Master of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at Illinois Tech College of Architecture; Chicago architect Vernon Williams, R.A.; and multinational design firm SmithGroup, a founding member of the BTTF Development Committee with more than 1,500 employees worldwide.
Featured speakers include Ciere Boatwright, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, and Doug Monieson, CEO of UICO, LLC and national treasurer of the Rails to Trails Conservancy. The event sponsorships support not only trail construction but also the BTTF's workforce development program, encouraging students to continue education or pursue construction trade apprenticeships.
The Bronzeville Trail Task Force, a federally exempt 501(c)3 organization, serves as community stewards for the project, working closely with stakeholders to ensure the trail becomes a vibrant, inclusive part of the Bronzeville community corridor. The trail route extends from 40th and Dearborn Streets east toward 41st and Lake Park, repurposing the abandoned Kenwood "L" line embankment into a walking, running, and biking trail park that addresses historical neglect while creating new economic opportunities.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
