Here's some exciting news: The city of Chicago just announced intentions to build out 10 blocks of public space under the newly revamped "L" tracks in Edgewater and Uptown. Not only can residents expect a slew of new amenities—from a playground to dog parks and a walking path—but they'll be able to chime in and tell officials what they would like to see in the area.
The project is part of a larger $2 billion plan to rebuild the Red Line on the North Side and the CTA specifically held meetings about it throughout 2024 to gather public input.
Earlier this week, final designs were shown to area residents, each one based on their very own feedback.
The renderings showcase two different dog parks, a paved walking path, new light posts and benches, a fitness area and a playground, among other amenities.
Block Club Chicago also reports that "the CTA is planning for a few parking spaces on the south end that businesses could rent for customer parking or public parking platforms like SpotHero could use." According to the outlet, once construction is completed, the CTA will partner with local businesses "to decide how the public space is used."
In terms of timeline, the work under the tracks should kick off in 2026 and wrap up the year after, in 2027. Is it 2027 yet?