The Bronzeville Trail Task Force will honor key supporters at its third annual Installation and Awards Luncheon on September 12, 2025, as the organization advances its $100 million project to convert an abandoned rail embankment into a recreational trail. The event at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place celebrates progress toward creating a 1.75-mile walking, running, and biking trail that represents one of the most significant infrastructure projects for Chicago's south side. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois Tech professor Dr. Maria Villalobos-Hernandez, architect Vernon Williams, and design firm SmithGroup will receive honors for their early support of the initiative.
The trail project aims to transform the neglected Kenwood Line, constructed partially by Black laborers during the Great Migration and abandoned for nearly 70 years, into a vibrant community space supporting wildlife, reducing pollution, and celebrating local culture. John E. Adams, CPA, founder and executive director of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force, emphasized the project's significance, 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 of investment.
The event will feature speakers including Ciere Boatwright, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, and Doug Monieson, CEO of UICO, LLC and board member of both the Bronzeville Trail Task Force and the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Sponsorship proceeds from the luncheon will support both trail construction and the organization's workforce development program encouraging students to pursue education or apprenticeships in construction trades. This workforce development component addresses economic disparities by creating pathways to skilled employment in the construction industry.
The Bronzeville Trail will stretch from 40th and Dearborn Streets east toward 41st and Lake Park, creating sustainable infrastructure that addresses historical neglect while providing health and recreational benefits for south side residents. The project represents a collaborative effort between community stakeholders, government officials, and design professionals to reclaim underutilized urban space for public benefit. This transformation of abandoned infrastructure into community assets has implications for similar projects nationwide, demonstrating how neglected urban spaces can be repurposed to address environmental justice, public health, and economic development simultaneously.
The project's importance extends beyond recreational benefits to include environmental remediation, as converting the rail embankment will help reduce pollution and support local wildlife. The recognition of the Kenwood Line's historical significance as a product of Black labor during the Great Migration adds cultural preservation to the project's multifaceted impact. The expected $1 billion in induced investment highlights how strategic infrastructure projects can stimulate economic revitalization in historically underserved communities, creating a model for equitable urban development that other cities might emulate.
