Could The Chicago River North Branch Become The Next Bloomingdale Trail?

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Jul 10, 2015 5:30PM

CDOT rendering

This week the Chicago Park District moved one step closer to creating a pedestrian and cycling trail along the North Branch of the Chicago River.

The trail would run for nearly two miles about 16 feet above the water, according to DNAinfo, and from the looks of some city renderings of the plans, could serve as a gorgeous commuting and leisure trail on par with The 606 and the lakefront path.

The trail would run between Clark Park at 3400 N. Rockwell Ave. and California Park at 3843 N. California Ave. on the city's Northwest Side.

The Chicago Department of Transportation would handle construction of the path, which is being called the Addison Underbridge Connector, between spring of 2016 and fall of 2017, according to Park District officials.

The Connector would serve as the latest in a series of city efforts to increase its number of park-like trails, from the popular Bloomingdale Trail (also known as The 606) to the revamped Riverwalk in the Loop.

The project is "hugely important," Chicago Park District CEO Michael Kelly said at a Wednesday meeting, according to RedEye. "Our ability to connect folks from as far north as the city and as far south as the city through alternative means of transportation other than a car is our focus."