RBP
06-06-2015, 12:13 PM
This is a cool project. :tup:
Chicago spent $90 million converting a 2.5 miles stretch of abandoned rail line into a park space that connect 6 different neighborhoods. It's called the 606 because of the first three numbers of Chicago zip codes.
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<iframe width="476" height="270" src="http://abc7chicago.com/video/embed/?pid=703738" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>...
CHICAGO (WLS) -- http://abc7chicago.com/news/drone-flies-over-nearly-ready-bloomingdale-trail-/703738/
More than $90 million has been spent to turn part of the old Bloomingdale Rail Line into a park that is more than 2.5 miles.
On Thursday, ABC7's colleague Colin Hinkle flew a small drone equipped with an HD camera over the new trail that is about to open in Chicago.
The Bloomingdale Trail will run from North Ashland to North Ridgeway, right through the heart of four Chicago neighborhoods on the city's Northwest Side.
All along this trail where people will run, ride and walk, there were once dozens and dozens of businesses, manufacturers growing in a city that was growing like mad 100 years ago.
"We think of steel mills and stockyards, but this was everything else," said Jim Peters, a historian.
Lincoln Logs were once made here, and Schwinn made excelsior motorcycles. In some of the buildings - which are now condos - fancy furniture was made. So were musical instruments, like Ludwig drums.
"Ringo played a Ludwig drum manufactured along the trail, and Harmony Guitar. I think George Harrisons first guitar was a Harmony guitar, and you're right, Lincoln logs and candies. Beer. Al Capone's beermaker was along the trail. He didn't make it here on the trail, but this is where he originated, so just an amazing set of stories. And what I think is great is a lot of those buildings are still here," Peters said.
"For a hundred years this railroad line really served the city as it grew, and now what we're doing in repurposing it, is serving these neighborhoods in a completely different way," said Beth White, Trust for Public Land.
The Bloomingdale Trail will open on June 6.
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From http://www.the606.org/about/the-story/
The Story
The 606 is a decade in the making.
As train traffic slowed on the Bloomingdale Line in the 1990s, attention turned to how the train line might be used to increase much-needed green space. The City of Chicago brought residents together to discuss an area of particular concern – Logan Square, a neighborhood that, at the time, had the least amount of open space per capita of any in Chicago.
Despite the neighborhood’s historic boulevards, Logan Square needed an additional 99 acres of active open space just to be brought up to City minimums. The City’s proposal to convert the Bloomingdale Line to a park was included in the 2004 Logan Square Open Space Plan, which prompted the Chicago Department of Transportation to begin applying for federal transportation funding for the project.
The City’s proposal prompted neighbors to form Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, an organization whose vision and mission were key to creating The 606. The group created a groundswell of community support not just in Logan Square, but in the other neighborhoods surrounding the rail line: Humboldt Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park. Knowing the Trust for Public Land’s work creating Haas Park in Logan Square, members of the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail reached out to the national non-profit, which helped bring together a coalition of city and civic organizations to move the project forward. The alliance of the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, The Trust for Public Land, and dozens of groups is turning the idea for a trail into a park and trail system to connect four Chicago neighborhoods and create innovative park space for thousands of residents and visitors alike.
Using its expertise in land conservation, creating urban parks and community collaboration, The Trust for Public Land hosted numerous community meetings, including a three-day design charrette in 2011. Community input into design and function has been a hallmark of The 606 process. Numerous public meetings brought community input into the park and trail system’s design, function, and aesthetics of the parks, trail, and event spaces. That process culminated in an unveiling of the final design plans and overarching project name in June of 2013.
The park and trail system is also the signature project of Mayor Emanuel and his push to create 800 new parks, recreation areas and green spaces throughout Chicago. The City of Chicago and The Chicago Park District, and The Trust for Public Land have provided the financial, cooperative, and logistical strength to move this public-private partnership from a dream into reality.
The 606 brings together arts, history, design, trails for bikers, runners, and walkers, event spaces, alternative transportation avenues, and green, open space for neighbors, Chicagoans, and the world. We look forward to sharing The 606 with you and your family.
================================================== ==========
The606.org FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The 606?
The 606 takes Chicago’s legacy of great parks to new heights. The 606 has the elevated Bloomingdale Trail as its centerpiece, connected to six neighborhood parks at ground level, a wheel-friendly event plaza, an observatory, art installations, educational programming, and other amenities. Set above city streets, it’s a new way to explore Chicago on trails for biking, running and strolling. The 606 also connects parks, people, and communities; what once physically separated four neighborhoods now will knit them together and attract visitors from throughout Chicago and beyond. Imagine block after block of uninterrupted trails. Kids will learn to ride their bikes here, commuters will find a new shortcut to work, and neighbors will make new friends. The 606 will change what it means to go to the park.
What will The 606 bring to Chicago?
Building on the City’s legacy for innovative parks, The 606 is the latest in Chicago’s long line of world-class public spaces. It will provide nearly three miles of much-needed open green space, and link four diverse city neighborhoods with the elevated trail and six neighborhood parks. The 606 will also bring economic development, public health, safety, environmental, and transportation benefits to our community. It will serve 80,000 neighbors—including 20,000 children—within a ten minute walk and is also expected to be a popular, citywide attraction and tourist destination.
Why is it called The 606?
The project is named for the 606 zip code prefix Chicagoans share, reflecting the park and trail system’s role as a community connector. The 606 name also evokes a connection to the site’s transportation history, a play on the tradition of using numbers to name rail lines, highways and other transportation corridors.
Where is The 606?
The park and trail system is on Chicago’s Northwest side, running along Bloomingdale Ave (1800 N), from Ashland Ave (1600 W) on the east to Ridgeway Ave (3750 W) on the west. The project connects four ethnically and economically diverse Chicago neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park and Logan Square.
Can I use The 606 now?
The 606 will open June 6, 2015. During construction, the entirety of the centerpiece Bloomingdale Trail and portions of some parks are closed to the public. No trespassing, please.
Who is working on the project?
The 606 is a public/private partnership between the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, and The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land is the lead private partner on The 606, and the project manager on behalf of the Chicago Park District. The not-for-profit is the nation’s leading organization focused on creating parks for people, especially urban park space, and is overseeing civic engagement, fundraising and land acquisition for the project. The completed park and trail system will be funded through a mix of federal, state and local funding, as well as private and corporate philanthropy.
How much will The 606 cost and who will pay for it?
The project budget is $95 million. The team has already raised $76 million towards completion of the project, including $56 million in public funds and $20 million in private donations. The 606’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 606 be complete?
The project broke ground in August 2013. The first phase of project is opening June 6, 2015. At that time, the elevated Bloomingdale Trail—the centerpiece of the system—and four of the connected parks will be open and accessible. Additional parks, further arts integration and enhanced landscaping will follow in additional phases.
Chicago spent $90 million converting a 2.5 miles stretch of abandoned rail line into a park space that connect 6 different neighborhoods. It's called the 606 because of the first three numbers of Chicago zip codes.
================================================== ==
<iframe width="476" height="270" src="http://abc7chicago.com/video/embed/?pid=703738" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>...
CHICAGO (WLS) -- http://abc7chicago.com/news/drone-flies-over-nearly-ready-bloomingdale-trail-/703738/
More than $90 million has been spent to turn part of the old Bloomingdale Rail Line into a park that is more than 2.5 miles.
On Thursday, ABC7's colleague Colin Hinkle flew a small drone equipped with an HD camera over the new trail that is about to open in Chicago.
The Bloomingdale Trail will run from North Ashland to North Ridgeway, right through the heart of four Chicago neighborhoods on the city's Northwest Side.
All along this trail where people will run, ride and walk, there were once dozens and dozens of businesses, manufacturers growing in a city that was growing like mad 100 years ago.
"We think of steel mills and stockyards, but this was everything else," said Jim Peters, a historian.
Lincoln Logs were once made here, and Schwinn made excelsior motorcycles. In some of the buildings - which are now condos - fancy furniture was made. So were musical instruments, like Ludwig drums.
"Ringo played a Ludwig drum manufactured along the trail, and Harmony Guitar. I think George Harrisons first guitar was a Harmony guitar, and you're right, Lincoln logs and candies. Beer. Al Capone's beermaker was along the trail. He didn't make it here on the trail, but this is where he originated, so just an amazing set of stories. And what I think is great is a lot of those buildings are still here," Peters said.
"For a hundred years this railroad line really served the city as it grew, and now what we're doing in repurposing it, is serving these neighborhoods in a completely different way," said Beth White, Trust for Public Land.
The Bloomingdale Trail will open on June 6.
================================================== ======
From http://www.the606.org/about/the-story/
The Story
The 606 is a decade in the making.
As train traffic slowed on the Bloomingdale Line in the 1990s, attention turned to how the train line might be used to increase much-needed green space. The City of Chicago brought residents together to discuss an area of particular concern – Logan Square, a neighborhood that, at the time, had the least amount of open space per capita of any in Chicago.
Despite the neighborhood’s historic boulevards, Logan Square needed an additional 99 acres of active open space just to be brought up to City minimums. The City’s proposal to convert the Bloomingdale Line to a park was included in the 2004 Logan Square Open Space Plan, which prompted the Chicago Department of Transportation to begin applying for federal transportation funding for the project.
The City’s proposal prompted neighbors to form Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, an organization whose vision and mission were key to creating The 606. The group created a groundswell of community support not just in Logan Square, but in the other neighborhoods surrounding the rail line: Humboldt Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park. Knowing the Trust for Public Land’s work creating Haas Park in Logan Square, members of the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail reached out to the national non-profit, which helped bring together a coalition of city and civic organizations to move the project forward. The alliance of the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, The Trust for Public Land, and dozens of groups is turning the idea for a trail into a park and trail system to connect four Chicago neighborhoods and create innovative park space for thousands of residents and visitors alike.
Using its expertise in land conservation, creating urban parks and community collaboration, The Trust for Public Land hosted numerous community meetings, including a three-day design charrette in 2011. Community input into design and function has been a hallmark of The 606 process. Numerous public meetings brought community input into the park and trail system’s design, function, and aesthetics of the parks, trail, and event spaces. That process culminated in an unveiling of the final design plans and overarching project name in June of 2013.
The park and trail system is also the signature project of Mayor Emanuel and his push to create 800 new parks, recreation areas and green spaces throughout Chicago. The City of Chicago and The Chicago Park District, and The Trust for Public Land have provided the financial, cooperative, and logistical strength to move this public-private partnership from a dream into reality.
The 606 brings together arts, history, design, trails for bikers, runners, and walkers, event spaces, alternative transportation avenues, and green, open space for neighbors, Chicagoans, and the world. We look forward to sharing The 606 with you and your family.
================================================== ==========
The606.org FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The 606?
The 606 takes Chicago’s legacy of great parks to new heights. The 606 has the elevated Bloomingdale Trail as its centerpiece, connected to six neighborhood parks at ground level, a wheel-friendly event plaza, an observatory, art installations, educational programming, and other amenities. Set above city streets, it’s a new way to explore Chicago on trails for biking, running and strolling. The 606 also connects parks, people, and communities; what once physically separated four neighborhoods now will knit them together and attract visitors from throughout Chicago and beyond. Imagine block after block of uninterrupted trails. Kids will learn to ride their bikes here, commuters will find a new shortcut to work, and neighbors will make new friends. The 606 will change what it means to go to the park.
What will The 606 bring to Chicago?
Building on the City’s legacy for innovative parks, The 606 is the latest in Chicago’s long line of world-class public spaces. It will provide nearly three miles of much-needed open green space, and link four diverse city neighborhoods with the elevated trail and six neighborhood parks. The 606 will also bring economic development, public health, safety, environmental, and transportation benefits to our community. It will serve 80,000 neighbors—including 20,000 children—within a ten minute walk and is also expected to be a popular, citywide attraction and tourist destination.
Why is it called The 606?
The project is named for the 606 zip code prefix Chicagoans share, reflecting the park and trail system’s role as a community connector. The 606 name also evokes a connection to the site’s transportation history, a play on the tradition of using numbers to name rail lines, highways and other transportation corridors.
Where is The 606?
The park and trail system is on Chicago’s Northwest side, running along Bloomingdale Ave (1800 N), from Ashland Ave (1600 W) on the east to Ridgeway Ave (3750 W) on the west. The project connects four ethnically and economically diverse Chicago neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park and Logan Square.
Can I use The 606 now?
The 606 will open June 6, 2015. During construction, the entirety of the centerpiece Bloomingdale Trail and portions of some parks are closed to the public. No trespassing, please.
Who is working on the project?
The 606 is a public/private partnership between the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, and The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land is the lead private partner on The 606, and the project manager on behalf of the Chicago Park District. The not-for-profit is the nation’s leading organization focused on creating parks for people, especially urban park space, and is overseeing civic engagement, fundraising and land acquisition for the project. The completed park and trail system will be funded through a mix of federal, state and local funding, as well as private and corporate philanthropy.
How much will The 606 cost and who will pay for it?
The project budget is $95 million. The team has already raised $76 million towards completion of the project, including $56 million in public funds and $20 million in private donations. The 606’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 606 be complete?
The project broke ground in August 2013. The first phase of project is opening June 6, 2015. At that time, the elevated Bloomingdale Trail—the centerpiece of the system—and four of the connected parks will be open and accessible. Additional parks, further arts integration and enhanced landscaping will follow in additional phases.