THE BURNHAM PLAN CENTENNIAL Creating Tomorrow’s Green Region 1 THE REGION AT A CROSSROADS ike Daniel Burnham a century ago, we Like the “gray” infrastructure of roads, utility lines, stand at a turning point in our region’s alleys, water mains and railroad tracks, the region’s history. green infrastructure provides myriad economic benefits. L When a meadow sops up rainfall, that water doesn’t If we choose business as usual, we will continue have to be transported and treated by a sewer system. to poison our air, grind up our prairies and When a garden across a rooftop lowers the building’s farmland, drain our water sources and drive up temperature, less energy—and money—are expended temperatures. for air conditioning. We nurture our green infrastructure when we build But, if, like Burnham, we are up to the energy-efficient buildings. We are good stewards of our challenge, we will commit ourselves, here and green infrastructure when we reduce, reuse and recycle The frontispiece now, to safeguard the woods and backyards, our waste. to the 1909 the savannas and river banks, the streams and Plan of Chicago The natural world Look at the satellite view of the emphasized the urban forests, the air and water and soil that Chicago region to the right. That’s the natural world in city’s connection form the natural network supporting all life which we live, a world without government boundaries. to the natural and here. It’s a world that’s a single fabric, each element linked to agricultural landscape around it. the other. If we are to safeguard and nurture this green infrastructure for ourselves and future generations, we need to think beyond boundaries. We need to make connections across the region. Making connections was a key element in 21 projects that were part of the centennial celebration of the Plan of Chicago. These projects—ranging from McHenry County to Kankakee, and from the Indiana lakeshore to Kane County—are examples of how the rich green legacy of the Burnham Plan continues to be carried forward. For each of these “green legacy” projects, goals were set, partnerships were formed, commitments were vowed— and progress was made. And, with the momentum of this year’s work, progress will continue. As this booklet details, some of the “green legacy” projects moved forward with giant strides, some with small steps. Yet, more will need to be done in the future—not only on these projects but across the region. We can do great things Chicago Wilderness, for instance, says that, in order to ensure the vibrancy of the green infrastructure, we need to protect the natural character and functioning of 1.8 million acres of the seven million acres in the greater Chicago region by the year 2060. In already developed areas, this may be as simple as promoting rain gardens and incorporating conservation principles into municipal land use ordinances. Elsewhere, it is essential to set aside open space as nature reserves to guarantee the landscape’s health and resiliency. That goal and others listed at the end of this booklet can be accomplished—if we put our will behind them. They must be done. As Daniel Burnham showed, if we think big and dream boldly, we can do great things. 2 If we are to safeguard and nurture our green THE REGION AT A CROSSROADS infrastructure for future generations, we need to think beyond political boundaries to protect, restore and connect green space. © Earthstar Geographics © Earthstar 3 GREEN LEGACY PROJECTS WALWORTH CO. Lake Geneva KENOSHA CO. Kenosha Chicago CartoGraphics WISCONSIN ILLINOIS10 LAKE CO. MCHENRY CO. McHenry 21 Woodstock 7 Waukegan LAKE 19 MICHIGAN 6 C OOK CO. Elgin 14 K ANE CO. 1 5 DU PA GE CO. CHICAGO 8 Aurora 9 14 3 4 17 2 Yorkville 15 KENDALL CO. Gary 20 11 C OOK CO. Joliet 18 Chicago Heights WILL CO. LAKE CO. PORTER CO. Morris 16 INDIANA ILLINOIS GRUNDY CO. K ANKAKEE CO. 4 Kankakee 12 13 ted 1.1 t3966 GREEN LEGACY PROJECTS Joseph Mohan 1 Bloomingdale Trail Design work begun for new linear park (page 11). 2 Burnham Greenway Mary Stedman Serious talks to close the gap (page 6). 3 Calumet Open Space Reserve The city took possession of a key marsh (page 11). 4 Calumet-Sag Trail Plans refined for 26-mile trail (page 6). 5 Chicago Riverwalk Path extended to nearly three-quarters of a mile (page 8). 6 Deer Grove Preserve State protection granted (page 11). 7 Des Plaines River Trail/ Liberty Prairie Reserve connection Planning done to make a key link (page 6). Mathis Ray 8 Englewood Open Space Plan and New E.R.A. Trail Grassroots plan completed (page 11). 9 Fox River Trail Aurora to close gap in 60-mile trail (page 7). 10 Hack-ma-tack National Wildlife Refuge Illinois Governor requests federal action (page 12). 11 Heritage Park Downtown master plans for Joliet and Lockport anchored by this eight-mile corridor (page 13). 12 Kankakee Riverfront Trail First phase of trail completed (page 8). 13 Kankakee Sands More than 7,000 acres now protected (page 13). Community Foundation Community 14 The Last Four Miles Valley River of Kankakee Detailed plans to make Chicago’s lakefront all parkland (page 8). 15 Marquette Greenway Trail New plan adopted to close nine-mile gap in 50-mile trail (page 7). 16 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Wheeler Kearns Wheeler Design concept selected for new learning center (page 13). 17 Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan After just a decade, trail system now 88 percent complete; celebration on Little Calumet River (page 9). 18 Old Plank Road Trail Twenty-one-mile trail completed (page 7). 19 Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Ravine/bluff ecosystem opened to the public (page 9). Charles Westerman 20 Rock Run Greenway Gap in nine-mile greenway closed (page 7). 21 Waukegan Open Space Implementation started, in the remaking of the downtown shoreline (page 9). 5 MAKING CONNECTIONS n little-noticed ways, the green border of Illinois, down the Mississippi River, infrastructure knits together the Chicago across the state along the Illinois River and Imetropolitan region in a single fabric. Hennepin Canal, and up the eastern edge. Water flows, birds fly, wildflowers grow without Burnham Greenway Significant negotiations regard to boundary lines on a map. took place in 2009 to close the two-mile gap in the Similarly, the hiking and biking trails in our 11-mile greenway on Chicago’s Far Southeast Side. Once complete, the trail will connect Chicago with ever-growing network help to weave the people the village of Burnham. The connections to regional and communities of the region together. trails is expected to provide and economic boost For instance, the Fox River Trail, one of this by creating a link between the Chicago trails and year’s “green legacy” projects, will combine those in the south suburbs. Partners: the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Village of with the McHenry County Prairie Trail to Burnham, Commonwealth Edison, Openlands and stretch for 60 miles from Wisconsin south to the City of Chicago. Next Step: Lease right of way from Kendall County—through Richmond, Crystal Commonwealth Edison; obtain funds for engineering. Lake and McHenry, through South Elgin Calumet-Sag Trail The Calumet-Sag Trail and St. Charles and Geneva and Batavia and Coalition and the National Park Service refined plans Oswego—once a key gap in Aurora is closed. for this 26-mile east-west trail to connect 14 south and Another important gap that needs to be southwest suburbs. On June 6, National Trails Day, the Univ of coalition sponsoredChicago a progressive series of trail route Jackson addressed is in the 11-mile Burnham Englewooddedication ceremonies.Park Next step: Start construction. Greenway, a second “green legacy” project. Woodlawn Des Plaines RiverSouth Trail/LibertyLakefront Trail Prairie When completed, this greenway will be a hub Shore 41 Reserve connection Planning efforts by the Hamilton Grand connecting five present and planned regional Park The Old Plank Road Lake CountyCrossing Forest Preserve DistrictRainbow focused on fixing Park Trail links Joliet and trails, including the 500-mile Grand Illinois a key gap in the regional trail system by linking the Avalon South Chicago Heights. Trail, a majestic loop across the northern 32-mileChatham Des PlainesPark River ChicagoTrail with the 5,800-acre 94 Calumet 90 Heights Grand Illinois Trail Cindy Horn 12 20 Chicago South State Univ Deering LAKE Olive- Harvey MICHIGAN College CHICAGO East Burnham Roseland Side Greenway Calumet River Pullman West Pullman Whiting Major Taylor Trail Lake Calumet Wo l f 94 Powers Lake 1 State 90 Rec Calumet 12 Park Area 20 Beaubien 912 Whistler Hegewisch Forest Preserve Forest Preserve 41 Powder- C East al- horn Sag Lake Tr Burn- Chicago ail 12 Riverdale ham M Dolton ar qu et te T r Dedications on a 912 i June 6 reaffirmed l Diane Banta Calumet 20 commitments to a South City Suburban 83 90 26-mile Calumet- Community Green Hammond 20 College Lake Sag Trail. The map at Wo o d s Erie Lackawanna Trail 6 far right shows how River closing a two-mile South Oaks Holland Center gap (dashed green) Purdue Burnham Greenway Univ INDIANA in the Burnham ILLINOIS Calumet 294 80 Greenway would East Hazel Pennsy Trail create a major hub for Crest Thornton 80 94 1 a regional trail system Lansing Munster Wicker of hundreds of miles. Brownell Mem. Wo o d s Park Thorn Highland 6 JurgensenCreek Wo o d s Trail (North) MAKING CONNECTIONS public-private Liberty Prairie Reserve in the Grayslake Old Plank Road Trail This 21-mile trail into area.