Bloomingdale Trail

{{Short description|Elevated rail trail in Chicago}} {{redirect|The 606|other uses|606 (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox park | name = Bloomingdale Trail Park | image = Bloomingdale Trail, the 606, Chicago 2015-33.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | map_alt = {{maplink|frame=yes|type=shape|id=Q4928316}} | map_size = | type = | location = 1600-3750 W. Bloomingdale Ave. [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States | coordinates = {{Coord|41.9138|-87.7020|display=inline,title}} | area = {{cvt|15.60|acre}} | established = 2013 | paths = Bloomingdale Trail | public_transit = CTA Routes 9, 49, 50, 56, 82, 94, 2511, Blue Line (Western) | operator = [[Chicago Park District]] | status = Open all year | open = 6:00 am–11:00 pm | website = [https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/bloomingdale-trail-park Official Website] }} '''Bloomingdale Trail Park''', previously '''Park No. 572''', is a {{convert|15.6|acre||adj=on}} {{convert|2.7|mi|adj=on}} long [[elevated park|elevated]] [[linear park]] running east–west along Bloomingdale Avenue between Ashland Avenue and Lawndale Avenue on the northwest side of [[Chicago]]. Part of '''The 606''' network and operated by the [[Chicago Park District]], it is the longest [[greenway (landscape)|greenway]] project of a former elevated rail line in the [[Western Hemisphere]], and the second longest in the world after [[Promenade plantée René-Dumont]] in [[Paris]]. In 2015, the City of Chicago converted the former Bloomingdale railway line to an elevated greenway and [[rail trail]]. The Park is in the [[Logan Square, Chicago|Logan Square]], [[Humboldt Park, Chicago|Humboldt Park]], and [[West Town, Chicago|West Town]] community areas.

==History== ===Bloomingdale rail line=== [[File:Tom Burke Photo Canadian Pacific Train on Bloomingdale Line Drake Avenue at Bloomingdale Avenue 2006.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Bloomingdale Line at Drake and Bloomingdale, 2006]] The Bloomingdale Line was constructed in 1873 by the Chicago & Pacific Railroad Company as part of the {{convert|36|mi|adj=on}} Elgin subdivision from Halsted Street in Chicago to the suburb of [[Elgin, Illinois]]. It was soon absorbed by the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway]] (also known as the Milwaukee Road), first via a 999-year lease in 1880 and later with a fee simple deed conveyance to the same in 1900. It became part of the [[Soo Line Railroad]] (a subsidiary of the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]), in 1986 when the Soo Line acquired the railroad operations and assets of the Milwaukee Road out of bankruptcy from parent Chicago Milwaukee Corporation (CMC). The City of Chicago purchased the property right-of-way from Canadian Pacific in January 2013.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Bloomingdale Line | Forgotten Chicago | History, Architecture, and Infrastructure | url=http://forgottenchicago.com/features/the-bloomingdale-line/ }}</ref>

The rail line was elevated approximately twenty feet in the 1910s as result of a city ordinance aimed at reducing pedestrian fatalities at grade crossings. The line had been a [[street running|street-running]] railway within Bloomingdale Avenue, an east–west street running at 1800 north; creating the embankment reduced Bloomingdale Avenue's width in some cases, rendering it an alleyway in some portions. Steel-reinforced concrete embankment walls line the corridor, with 38 viaducts built.

[[File:The Bloomingdale in Bucktown in 2009.jpg|thumb|Bloomingdale line in 2009, years before removal of railroad tracks]]

The railway was used for both passenger and freight trains and served several local industrial businesses, including a [[Schwinn Bicycle Company]] warehouse. The Bloomingdale Line was primarily used to reach the former Milwaukee Road tracks on the Chicago & Evanston Line (popularly known as the Lakewood Branch and the Kingsbury Branch), the remnant of the Deering Line, and on Goose Island. The Bloomingdale Line connected to the former Milwaukee Road tracks east of the North Branch of the Chicago River at C&E Junction located in the middle of Kingsbury Street and just south of Cortland. The last through freight train operated over the line in 2001. Canadian Pacific then used the Bloomingdale Line to store freight cars as well as when switching nearby Newly Weds Foods up through 2012.

The Bloomingdale Avenue embankment continues west of the trail terminus at Ridgeway Avenue, where it intersects with [[Metra]]'s commuter tracks of the [[Milwaukee Road]], with northbound [[Milwaukee District North Line|North Line]] trains continuing toward [[Fox Lake, Illinois|Fox Lake]] using the CP [[C&M Subdivision]] and [[Milwaukee District West Line|West Line]] trains running along the Bloomingdale tracks west to [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]] via the CP Elgin Subdivision. The tracks lower to surface-level on the western outskirts of the city.

===Greenway construction=== [[File:Bloomingdale Trail groundbreaking-HD.webmhd.webm|thumb|left|August 2013 groundbreaking ceremony, with [[Rahm Emanuel]] speaking]] The City of Chicago first investigated converting the Bloomingdale Line into a greenway in 1997, but the railway was still in active use. The city and community reintroduced the greenway concept as part of the Logan Square Open Space Plan in 2002–2004.<ref>[http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&contentOID=536910041&topChannelName=HomePage Logan Square Open Space Plan]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>" This plan proposed a linear park or greenway with several public access ramps. At the east end, a trailhead would be created at the [[Chicago River]].

A grassroots, non-profit organization, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail (FBT), was formed in 2003 to be the focal point for advocacy and community involvement in the conversion project.<ref name="fbt_about">{{Cite web|url= http://www.bloomingdaletrail.org/about/|title= About FBT|access-date= 2011-06-08|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716063323/http://www.bloomingdaletrail.org/about/|archive-date= 2011-07-16|url-status= dead}}</ref> FBT partnered with the City and [[The Trust for Public Land]], a national non-profit land conservation group, in a collaboration that lead the project management, design, and development.<ref name="tpl">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tpl.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/illinois/bloomingdale-trail.html|publisher=[[The Trust for Public Land]]|title=Bloomingdale Trail|access-date=2011-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130174434/http://www.tpl.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/illinois/bloomingdale-trail.html|archive-date=2011-11-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Collins Engineers|Collins Engineers, Inc.]] was selected to provide Phase II design. A groundbreaking ceremony occurred on August 27, 2013, at what would become the Milwaukee Avenue / Leavitt Street connection to the trail.<ref name="606 April 2013">{{cite web |url=http://the606.org/mayor-emanuel-leads-groundbreaking-on-bloomingdale-trail/ |title=Mayor Emanuel Leads Groundbreaking on Bloomingdale Trail |date= August 27, 2013 |publisher=Mayor's Press Office}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date= April 2014}}

In November 2013, the [[Alphawood Foundation]] offered a $2 million grant to finance the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131120/BLOGS03/131129975/fred-eychaner-steps-up-for-bloomingdale-trail |title= Fred Eychaner steps up for Bloomingdale Trail |date= November 20, 2013 |work=Crain's Chicago Business |last=Kapos |first=Shia}}</ref> The park officially opened on June 6, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 606 park to open in June| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-606-park-trail-debut-met-20150420-story.html|access-date=20 May 2015|work= Chicago Tribune|date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> There have been various proposals to connect the trail to the former [[A. Finkl & Sons Steel]] property, a 22-acre site in Lincoln Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/10/17/alderman-s-plan-extend-606-trail-faces-numerous-challenges|title = Alderman's Plan to Extend 606 Trail Faces Numerous Challenges}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://chicagoist.com/2016/12/12/developer_buys_finkl_steel_site_end.php |title=Developer Buys Finkl Steel Site as Hope to Expand the 606 Takes Root: Chicagoist |access-date=2017-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170224124947/http://chicagoist.com/2016/12/12/developer_buys_finkl_steel_site_end.php |archive-date=2017-02-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-finkl-site-redevelopment-ryan-ori-0326-biz-20170324-column.html | title= Finkl Site Redevelopment| work= Chicago Tribune }}</ref>

=== Post-construction === [[File:Bloomingdale Trail, the 606, Chicago 2015-38.jpg|thumb|right|Milwaukee Bridge]] Since the opening of the park in 2015, the areas around it have experienced [[gentrification]] with housing prices increasing 344% from 2012 to 2019 near the western half of the trail.<ref>{{cite web|title=Displacement Pressure in Context: Examining Recent Housing Market Changes Near The 606|url=https://www.housingstudies.org/releases/Displacement-Pressure-in-Context-606/|work=DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies|date=2020-01-15}}</ref> In response, local [[aldermen|alderman]] passed city ordinances prohibiting replacement of multifamily apartment buildings with [[single-family detached home]]s without specific [[zoning]] approval<ref>{{cite web|title=New Ordinance Makes It Harder To Turn Apartments Into Single-Family Homes Along 606 And In Pilsen|url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/01/27/new-ordinance-makes-it-harder-to-turn-apartments-into-single-family-homes-along-606-and-in-pilsen/|work=Block Club Chicago|date=2021-01-27}}</ref> and imposing fees on developers who do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anti-Gentrification Ordinance Approved, Slapping Developers With Steep Fines For Tearing Down Buildings Near The 606, In Pilsen|url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/03/24/anti-gentrification-ordinance-approved-slapping-developers-with-steep-fines-for-tearing-down-buildings-near-the-606-in-pilsen/|work=Block Club Chicago|date=2021-03-24}}</ref> Construction of Encuentro Square, an affordable housing development near the west end of the trail, was approved by the city in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/renters/news/2022/may/encuentro-square-to-bring-89-new-affordable-rental-units-at-the-.html|title=Encuentro Square to Bring 89 New Affordable Rental Units at the 606 Trail Terminus|work=City of Chicago Department of Housing|date=2022-05-23}}</ref> Local advocacy groups incorporated a [[community land trust]] which received funding from the state of Illinois.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/02/14/logan-squares-community-land-trust-gets-5-million-boost-from-state/|title=Logan Square's Community Land Trust Gets $5 Million Boost From State|work=Block Club Chicago|date=2023-02-14}}</ref>

==Attractions== Some attractions within the park include; The Bloomingdale Trail (multi-use path), several nature trails, picnic and seating areas, apiaries, Damen Arts Plaza, Humboldt Overlook, Milwaukee Bridge, St. Louis Overlook, and the Exelon Observatory at Ridgeway. Bloomingdale Trail Park also connects directly to other neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

==Connections to other parks== Bloomingdale Trail Park is the backbone of '''The 606''' connecting the multiple parks and trail network together. ===The 606=== The 606 consists of several linked parks along the Bloomingdale Trail including; Bloomingdale Trail Park, Walsh Park, Park No. 512 (Ashland Trailhead), Churchill Field Park, Julia de Burgos Park, and Park No. 567 (Ridgeway Trailhead).<ref>{{cite web | title=The 606 | Chicago Park District | url=https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/606# }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Visit the 606 | Chicago Park District | url=https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/visit-606 }}</ref> The numeric name is an homage to the city's [[ZIP Code]]s, the prefix for nearly all of which is 606.<ref name="606 April 2013" /> {{Infobox trail | name = Bloomingdale Trail | image = 606 trail wayfinding sign (38344730656).jpg | image_alt = | caption = Map found along trail | title = | began = 2013 | completed = {{start date and age|2015}} | length_mi = 2.7 | location = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States | trailheads = East end: Park No. 512;Walsh Park, West end: Ridgeway Avenue;Park No. 579 | use = Biking, Running, Walking | difficulty = | season = | months = | maintainer = | map = {{switcher| {{maplink-road|frame-width=270|from=Bloomingdale Trail.map}} |Show interactive map |{{Bloomingdale Trail|inline=y}} |Show route diagram map }} | map_caption = Bloomingdale Trail highlighted in red with marked access points | route = | route_state = }}

==Bloomingdale Trail== [[File:Bicycling west to east on the Bloomingdale Trail.webm|thumb|left|Bicycling west to east on the Bloomingdale Trail]] The '''Bloomingdale Trail''', part of the 606 Trail network, is a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) [[Shared-use path|multi-use]] [[rail trail]] operated by the [[Chicago Park District]] that follows the former [[Bloomingdale_Trail_Park#Bloomingdale_rail_line|Bloomingdale rail line]] running east–west throughout the park between Ashland Avenue and Ridgeway Avenue. The surface of the trail is concrete with a blue rubberized running path flanking each side and is used by walkers, runners, and cyclists during park operating hours.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-03 |title=Railroad to park: How the 606 was built |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/06/03/railroad-to-park-how-the-606-was-built/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How Chicago’s 606 Trail Fell Short of Expectations {{!}} Newgeography.com |url=https://www.newgeography.com/content/005089-how-chicago-s-606-trail-fell-short-expectations |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=www.newgeography.com}}</ref> The trail runs from east–west, Park No. 512 (Ashland Trailhead)/Walsh Park though '''Bloomingdale Trail Park''' to Park No. 579 (Ridgeway Trailhead) with several access points throughout.

===Extension=== In August 2023, Chicago Department of Transportation unveiled a plan to extend the Bloomingdale Trail east of Ashland Avenue. The plan is to take the trail over Ashland Avenue, underneath the [[Kennedy Expressway]], and under the [[Metra]] rail lines corridor to connect with Elston Avenue, and eventually across the Chicago River connecting to the [[Lincoln Park, Chicago|Lincoln Park]] neighborhood. The extension is planned to be completed by late 2027.<ref>{{cite web | title=The 606's Bloomingdale Trail Extension Delayed, Now Expected by Late 2027 | date=21 January 2025 | url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/21/the-606s-bloomingdale-trail-extension-delayed-with-completion-now-expected-by-late-2027/ }}</ref>

== See also== *[[List of rail trails]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/bloomingdale-trail-park Official Chicago Park District website - Bloomingdale Trail Park] *[https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/bikingrunningwalking-path Official Chicago Park District website - Bloomingdale Trail (Path)] *[https://www.the606.org/ The 606 website] *[https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/606# Chicago Park District 606 page] *[https://www.bloomingdaletrail.org/ Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail]

[[Category:Rail trails in Illinois]] [[Category:Bike paths in Chicago]] [[Category:Parks of the Chicago Park District]] [[Category:Articles containing video clips]] [[Category:Elevated parks]] [[Category:2015 establishments in Illinois]]