Bronzeville Trail Task Force to Honor Supporters at Annual Luncheon as $100 Million Project Advances
TL;DR
The Bronzeville Trail project offers a competitive advantage by potentially inducing over $1 billion in investment and creating new economic opportunities for Chicago's south side.
The Bronzeville Trail converts a 1.75-mile abandoned rail line into a multi-use park through phased construction with a $100 million budget and workforce development programs.
This project creates a vibrant community space that reduces pollution, supports wildlife, and celebrates local culture while providing health benefits for south side residents.
A historic rail line built by black laborers during the Great Migration is being transformed into a 1.75-mile trail park celebrating Bronzeville's rich heritage.
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The Bronzeville Trail Task Force will host its third annual Installation and Awards Luncheon on September 12, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, recognizing significant progress in transforming a long-abandoned rail corridor into a community trail. The nonprofit organization is advancing the Bronzeville Trail project, which will convert the historic Kenwood Line embankment into a 1.75-mile walking, running, and biking trail park stretching from 40th and Dearborn Streets to 41st and Lake Park.
Constructed partially by Black laborers during the Great Migration and neglected for nearly 70 years, the Kenwood Line represents an important historical remnant that the Task Force aims to repurpose into a vibrant, sustainable community space. The project, with a projected construction cost of $100 million, seeks to support wildlife, reduce pollution, and celebrate local culture, history, and ecology while serving south side residents.
John E. Adams, CPA, founder and executive director of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force, emphasized the project's momentum, noting that the city's $5 million commitment last year has activated phase one construction. Adams stated that the Trail "will prove to be the most catalytic and transformative project in the history of Bronzeville and may induce over $1 Billion dollars of investment." The organization's website at https://www.bronzevilletrail.org provides additional information about the project's development and community impact.
This year's luncheon will honor several key supporters, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the first Black woman to hold the office and one of the first elected officials to support the Bronzeville Trail project. Also being recognized are Dr. Maria Villalobos-Hernandez, associate professor and Director of the Master of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at Illinois Tech College of Architecture; Chicago architect Vernon Williams, R.A., the first Chicago architect to support the project; and multinational design firm SmithGroup, a founding member of the BTTF Development Committee.
Featured speakers include Ciere Boatwright, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, who leads the department's economic, planning and zoning functions while promoting inclusive growth across Chicago. Doug Monieson, CEO of UICO, LLC and board member of both the Bronzeville Trail Task Force and the Rails to Trails Conservancy, will also address attendees. The Rails to Trails Conservancy, accessible at https://www.railstotrails.org, is a Washington, DC-based organization that actively supports building a nation connected by trails.
Sponsorship proceeds from the event will support both the Bronzeville Trail construction and the BTTF's workforce development program, which encourages students to continue their education or pursue apprenticeships in construction trades. The Bronzeville Trail Task Force, a federally exempt 501(c)3 organization, serves as community stewards for the project, working with stakeholders to ensure the Trail becomes a vibrant, inclusive part of the Bronzeville community corridor.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
