Englewood Nature Trail gets $20 million in funding

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL-07) recently announced $20M in federal grant funding awarded to support the Englewood Nature Trail. 

Poised to convert a 1.75-mile abandoned railway corridor into a grade-separated multi use path for walking and biking, the trail will not only revitalize a railway corridor that has been unused since the 1960s, but also serve as the spine of an urban agriculture district that occupies adjacent land, along with other productive uses. The long-term goals for the trail include connecting the surrounding area with safe and inviting park space and multi-use paths.

“This equity-focused investment in the Englewood community will serve as a major catalyst for revitalization,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The Englewood Nature Trail is both a physical connector and pathway to community connectivity and opportunity. The trail, which was importantly developed as part of a community-led process, will benefit Englewood residents for years to come.”

The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program to help communities carry out infrastructure and transportation projects with significant local or regional impact.

The money will go towards the detailed design and construction of the trail, which is planned to run east to west along an elevated berm, starting near Hoyne Ave to the west and crossing over 26 viaducts on its way east towards Wallace St. There will be nine access points to the trail for the communities that it will pass through.

As part of the citywide vision of trails and open spaces, the city is seeking both federal and local funding sources to support the completion of the Englewood Nature Trail project and will be working with community stakeholders in tandem with city departments including CDOT, DPD, and Chicago Park District.