CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The City has posted renderings of what Chicago’s lakefront reimagined, which would include a lot more greenspace and more inviting spaces between Grand and Hollywood Avenues.
It’s a dramatically different look, one that would be the result of the “Redefine the Drive” project, which relied upon community engagement surveys and collaboration between the Chicago and Illinois Departments of Transportation.
The parkland would be expanded out into the lake — quite a distance — by filling in what is now water. That’s how much of Grant Park was created, where some of the fill used was from the Great Chicago Fire.
The area between the Ohio Street and North Avenue Beaches would be significantly expanded out into the lake. New walking and biking trails, with better access points, were also included in the proposal.
At this point, the proposal is a dream, with no mention of what it would cost.
Recent reports have highlighted the potential danger of flooding due to Lake Michigan’s rising waters.
Redefine the Drive officials have written that, since the 1990s, DuSable Lake Shore Drive has undergone little change “other than routine maintenance or isolated construction activities.” Officials added that increased use of both Lincoln Park and the drive has created strains on the relationship between park, trail, and roadway.
A full rundown of the lakefront renderings can be found here.
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