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5. Create More Bike and Pedestrian Ways toConnect Parks and Boulevards

The development of new bikeways combined with improvements to existing ones could provide recreation and transportation alternatives for area residents and workers. Safe pedestrian connections and enhanced bike circulationcould also improve access to existing and proposed parks and to the boulevards.

On the west side of the community area, a new bike route could connect Kosciuszko Park, Mozart Elementary School(proposed campus park site), Mozart Park and Ames Elementary School.

It is also recommended that the boulevards could be safely accessed through new bike routes on Wrightwood Avenueand Palmer Street (access to proposed re-designed Palmer Square), and an enhanced bike route on Armitage Avenue.Safe pedestrian and bike connection should be provided to all Bloomingdale Linear Park access points.

All bikeway limits are only within the geography of the Logan Square Open Space Plan. The full length of the bike-way may go beyond the scope of this geography.

PROPOSED BIKE LANE:5’ to 6’ wide section on each side of the street reserved for bicycle use, identified with special pavement markings and signs.

• Diversey Avenue (between Milwaukee Avenue and Damen Avenue)

• Damen Avenue (between Diversey Avenue and Webster Avenue)

• Armitage Avenue (between Humboldt Boulevard and Western Avenue)

• Around Palmer Square (see Recommendation #2)

• Logan Boulevard (between Milwaukee Avenue and Western Avenue)

Suggested locations

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PROPOSED ENHANCED EXISTING BIKE ROUTE:Cars and bikes share the street; Pavement marking and signs bring potential cyclist presence to drivers’ attention, provide dis-tance and directions to cyclists. In some cases, pavement markings can also provide more space for bicyclists on the roadway.However, a designated bike lane is not provided.

• Kedzie Boulevard (between Diversey Avenue and Palmer Boulevard)

• Humboldt Blvd. (between Palmer Boulevard and the Bloomingdale)

• California Avenue (between Diversey Avenue and the Bloomingdale)

• Milwaukee Avenue (between Diversey Avenue and the Bloomingdale)

• Central Park Avenue (between Diversey Avenue and the Bloomingdale)

• Armitage Avenue (between Avers Avenue and Western Avenue)

PROPOSED NEW BIKE ROUTE:

• Avers Avenue (between Diversey Avenue and Armitage Avenue)

• Hamlin Avenue (between Diversey Avenue and Armitage Ave.)

• Wrightwood Avenue (between Avers Ave. and Kedzie Boulevard)

• Palmer Street (between Avers Ave. and Kedzie Boulevard)

Next Steps:• CDOT to investigate feasibility of the recommended location enhancements. If possible, design and construction

costs could be added to CDOT’s capital program.• CDOT to investigate the feasibility of other bikeways that connect users to all Bloomingdale access points.• CDOT to identify demand and provide bicycle parking at all locations, potentially including long-term bicycle

parking at campus parks and Chicago Park District field houses. Identify funding. If possible, costs could be addedto CDOT’s capital program.

• CDOT to investigate existing pedestrian conditions at access points/routes to all open spaces and recommendedimprovements. If possible, costs could be added to CDOT’s capital program.

The redesign of Logan Square, coupled with traffic calming techniques, could make the area around the IllinoisCentennial Column more conducive to passive open space activities. Milwaukee Avenue could be rerouted around themonument, similar to a European rotary, providing an opportunity to join the two parcels that now constitute LoganSquare. In addition to needed restorations of historic lighting on the site, an existing comfort/maintenance station onthe site could be converted to a concession building to provide more amenities for site users. Some members of the com-munity did not believe a rotary would actually calm traffic. Others proposed an alternative—make the rounded edgesof the existing Logan Square parcels angular and restore land at the periphery to expand green space.

Potential new open space—to be determined after agreement on design

6. Redesign Logan Square

1

1

2

2

Existing Conditions

Illinois Centennial Monument, Logan Square Logan Square from Milwaukee

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Next Steps• Analyze the feasibility of re-designing the

rotary and/or other improvements. If feasible and desirable, design and con-struction costs would be added to CDOT’scapital program.

Examples of Rotary Design

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A public plaza could be created near the Logan Square subway station at Milwaukee Avenue and Logan Boulevardwhere the elevated line goes underground south of the station. This vacant land owned by the Chicago TransitAuthority (CTA) could be developed as a plaza and serve as a farmer’s market location catering to transit users and localresidents.

Potential new open space—0.4 acres

7. Create a Market Plaza

1

1

Market Plaza site from Logan Square

Existing Conditions

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Next Steps

Examples of New Design

• Pursue a lease from the CTA.• Address parking issues.

• Identify management entity for the site.• Identify funding to design and implement the project.• Design and implement safe pedestrian crossing.

Plaza on market day

Rendering of Plaza on market day

Plaza without market

1

1

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Community-managed open spaces could be created by local residents using city-owned vacant land. The ChicagoDepartment of Environment GreenCorps program and the Chicago Botanic Garden offer financial and technical assistance to block clubs and neighborhood organizations interested in developing community open spaces. Oncedeveloped, groups can apply to NeighborSpace, a non-profit land trust, to acquire the land from the City to ensure itslong-term use as a neighborhood open space.

Potential new open space for short term sites: 0.26 acres

Next Steps• For sites listed under short term a group has expressed interest in developing a community managed open space.

Information on the programs that offer assistance will continue to be distributed to the interested groups. • For sites listed under long term no group has expressed an interest to the City to use the land for a community man-

aged open space. Non-profit organizations such as Openlands Project, which works with neighborhood groups toplan for and build small open spaces, could partner with the other greening organizations to try and identify and assista group in the vicinity of each of the long term sites.

8. Create Community-managed Open Spaces

Short Term Long Term3041 W. Dickens Avenue 1810 N. Kedzie Avenue2214–2220 N. Drake Avenue 2227 N. Monticello Avenue

1828 N. Drake Avenue3255 W. Altgeld Avenue

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Recommended City-owned sites

The open space and facilities at Kosciuszko Park could be enhanced in several ways, including the establishment of adesignated parking area, improved playground equipment, and improved programming that meets the needs of area res-idents. The façade of the natatorium could also be upgraded to provide a more inviting atmosphere.

Next Steps• Identify funding

9. Improve Kosciuszko Park

Examples of New Design

Existing Conditions

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The Park District is currently working on a plan that includes closing Washtenaw Avenue to expand the park, redevel-oping the playground and athletic field area, demolishing the existing field house and building a field house with a gym,clubrooms, lockers, and office space. This plan maximizes the amount of green space and provides an improved fieldhouse.

Potential new open space: 0.22 acres

Next Steps• Investigate all opportunities to expand the park.

10. Improve and Expand Haas Park

Examples of New Design

Existing Conditions

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Brentano Campus Park was developed four years ago to provide open space for children attending the school and liv-ing nearby. It is already showing signs of overuse. The playground developed as part of the campus park is off the schoolgrounds and not up to current standards. Revisit the design to increase and enhance the open space opportunities.Changes could include replacing the grassy field with artificial turf, moving the teacher parking off site to the play-ground location and building a playground on the campus grounds, and developing a nature garden in the grounds.

Potential new open space: TBD

Next Steps• Include upgrades to Brentano School in

2006 Campus Park Program.

11. Reconfigure Brentano Campus Park

Examples of New Design

Existing Conditions

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Appendix I-Existing Open Space

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Appendix II-Public Meetings

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Appendix III-Public Meetings Attendees List

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John AabergChuck AbrahamMichael AdreaniRuth Alanis (Austin Special TR – Program)MaryJo AliElis AmilCipriano AnchetaBrice AndersonCarl & Jeannie AndersonWarren & Lynda AntmanMaria ArcosMichael AshfieldJames AudrainDennis Banning (LSRA Community Garden)Walt & Kay BarnhartBen BarronAlisa BaumDeborah BaylyRose Becerra (Logan Square Neighborhood Assoc.)Aliza BeckerBarbara BeckerSteve BeiserTeresa BekkerTeresa BekkezJamie BenderEva Bergant (BCO Park)James BibelKaren BlackRod BlagojevichRichard Blender (Wilkinson Blender Architecture)William Blok (HAPS)Earl BockenfeldJennifer BojanowskiCindy BolchofTeo BolchofBobbie BolocivchJennifer BonanaowkskiRay BorjaThe Boulevard CaféVirginia BreclawAnn Breen-GrecoBart BrownDaisy Brown (4900 & 5000 Bloomingdale B.C.)Finley BrownSteve BrownCarl BuffaliniAngel BurgosJulie BurrosMichael Burton (Logan Square Depavers Alliance)Eric BushonvilleAmelia CabanJim CacciacarroJeff CadaRobert & Carmen CadizSteve CaigFlora CalabresePat CalabreseMary & Keith CampbellBecky Campouerde

Nydia Castillo (Brentano School – Asst. Principal)David CedenoCenter Portion Gallery Adam Cerars (Erhler Park Advisory Council)Lora Chamberlais

BucktownDavid Chandler (Center for Neighborhood Technology)Renee Chester (Friends of the Parks)Joe ChouonardGilmer ChumpitazPayton Chung (West Town Bike Advisory Council)Ann CibulskisHerman ClarkPatrick ClarkRonald ClarkeBryan ClaytonJohn CoatsHugh CollinsVilma Colom (35th Ward)Frank Colon (BCF)Rey ColonJohn ConcannonThomas & Maribeth ConleyEdward & Linda ConwayRobert CoppleM. Correa (Logan Sq. Neighborhood Assoc.)Juan CortezLarry Cotter (2800 N. Christiana Block Club)Lew Coulson (Logan Sq. Pres – EDC)Christine CrandallNyria Crespo (Logan Sq. Library Reading Garden)Joe CruteRamon CuniPeter CunninghamTom CunninghamKristina del ValleIsrael Diaz, Jr.Ivette DiazRhessa DiazJoseph & Catalina DiCaraMark DiserioDonna Dluzak (Holstein Park Advisory Committee)Peggy DoerrBill DonahuePaula DonatoGlenna DooseTerry DowdClara DragonowsPeter DraperCece Drazek (EDC of Logan Square)Cindy DrozdSusan DuffeyJulie DworuinLaurene Dye-ColonAlex & Betty DziubinskiEbarviaJohn EdelArthur EdelsteinStanley Edwards

Name Organization Name Organization

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Edwin EisendrathJoann Elam (Logan Sq. Library Reading Garden)Joann ElanBetsy Elsaesser (Logan Square Preservation)Bruce EmbreyPaul EslingBryan & Temistocles EspinoHank EstradaMaurice FarbsteinJohn FarleyFran & Trudie FazioBob FeigenheimerNancy FergusonJeff FerraraTiffiny & Anthony FlaimEmily FlaxCarol FletcherThomas FlynnMike FoleyJohn Foote (The Boulevard Café)David FoustJohn FritcheyAlyssa FronChristoher GagnonGlen & Melanie GahanMigdalia Galarza (Neighbors Garden)Gill GaliciaKimvberly GarbaczTeresa Garcia (Kosciuzko Park)Larry Garrett (West Logan Block Club)Marc GartlerGrace GaussBeth GoldbergAnamari GolfLucy Gomez-Feliciano (LSNA)Kristin GonnellaElisabeth Gonzalez (Chase School)George GonzalezHector GonzalezNelson GonzalezRaquel Gonzalez (Brentano School)Julia Goode (Swan Black Club)Steven GordonThomas GraceColleen GrecoSusan GregoireAdam GrzegorczykGary GrzesloCarlos GuevalaJim Gustafson (Logan Sq. Pres – EDC)Meg GustgamRichard Guzman-BarronChristine HaizelSally Hamann (East Logan Neighbors)Russ HanleyNancy HannaStacy Harris (Logan Square Preservation)Bob HarrisonChristine HarrisonJohn HastieJonathan HealyMartin HeilmannMark Heller (Unity Park)Ben Helphand (Center for Neighborhood Technology)Ben Helphaud (Friends of Bloomingdale Line)

Joe Hendrix (Logan Sq. Library Reading Garden)Gretchen HenningerP.J. HensonMichael Herman (St. Sylvester)Jane Heron (Kosciuzko Park Advisory Council)Roland HeyneSteve Hier (HAPS)Tom Hinkens (Triangle Sq. Group)Chief HobbsAlan HodgesKristin Hofer (North Logan Block Club)Kitty (Hopper)Marcy HutlasAnita HuygelenLoan Huynh (Citylink newspaper)Louis IsbitzMike JacksonJerry JacobaHenning JacobshagenLezley JacobsonJennifer JanowskiJohn & Candace JemiloMark JohnsonDeloris JonesPhil Jones (Haas Park Advisory Council)Phil & Janice Jones (Haas Park Advisory Council)Steve KaimJanine KalembaGene KaminskiSarah KaplanRobert KaralMichael KardasJo KeeastraJo KeegstraSusan Keeper (DWPC)Gin Kilgore (Pocket Parks not Parking Lots)Timothy Kincaid (The Organization Of Palmer Square)Kenneth KirchnerKathleen KlausLisa Knaggs (BCO)Gladys KnobelTom KnudtsonJeff KnurekPeter KohnAlbene KokocinskiJudith KrasonMatthew KuhlMatthew KuhlMichelle LahalihS. LapmanStephen LaszkiewiczPaula LeeCorinne LenzPaul LevinLarry Ligas (Logan Concerned Citizens)Steve Lipe (Bucktown Community Org.)Kathryn LisekJocelyn & Karena LopezMark J. LuchtGaig LudingtonLula Café Brian LundLisa MadiganRichard MagillMargit Magnuson

Name Organization Name Organization

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Jane Mahowski (Unity Park)Laurie MainShannon MalikJohn MangahasMargit MangusonAbel ManriqueDwight MarroquinMark MarshallMagdalena Martez (BCF)Kelly MartinMike MartinSandra MartinMaggie Martina (BCF)Lupe Martinez (Mozart Basketball)Maria MartinezNicole Masse (Brentano School, Teacher)Theodore MatlakMark MatsonaVictor MattisonTerri MazurPat McCannMarit McCauslandKeith McCawleyMourit McCayslandMark & Nancy McClellandMac McCombs (Logan Triangle)Delia McDonoughMary McEnteeJohn McGovern (West Town Bike Advisory Council)Denise McIntyreJim McNultyJames MeddJon MedinaNicole Merryfield (Friends of the Parks)Mike Meuris (Walsh Park)Jane Michalski (Kosciuzko Park)Anne MillerJeff Miller (Wabansia & Leavitt)Ward Miller (Logan Preservation, Kimball Neighborhood)Cherie & David MillsRonit MitchellHeidi MohlBarbara Anne MonsonGretchen Moore (Logan Square Armitage Chamber of Commerce) Rachel & Patrick MooreStan MunizNoel MunozTim MurphyTony & Rosemary Murphy (Cortland Neighbors)Marcello NavarroJeanette NeumiecGareth NewfieldJohn NortonBilly Ocasio (26th Ward)David O'DonnellJohn O'DonnellDan O'GradyJohn O'HaraKieth & Janet OlsonHope O'RellGreg OrlikDean OttKevin Palmer (Home Owners of Palmer Square)Louise Panike (Haas Park Advisory Council)Gerald Pansini

John Parizek (Logan Square Preservation)Marilyn ParsonsScott PayneRita Pekara (CAPS – Beautify NE Logan Sq. – North LoganBlock Club)Amelia PerezAnthony Perez (Goethe Elementary School)Rich & Kathie PetersonDina Petrakis (East Logan Neighbors)Reynes Peyes (Brentano School, Principal)Lisa PhillipsLeah Pieyrusiak (Citylink newspaper)Don PitzenLinda Poleski (Kosciuzko Park Advisory Council)Clarissa PonceChristy Prahl (Friends of Bloomingdale Trail)Monica Prinz (Kosciuzko Park)Progressive Logan Square E. PuyotJose QuilesBrian QuinnJames RaclawRichard RadiceKenneth Rainey (North Logan Block Club)Sophia Rainey (North Logan Block Club)Freda RamirzHector RamosAriel Reboyras (30th Ward Candidate)Redmoon Theatre Paula ReinertDana RenayGeorge RendonRey ReyesEllen ReynoldsChristopher RhodesJim RhodesKenneth & Laura RhodesGeorge RiceTobiaski RichardCharles RichardsonFrank RinsretPedro RiveraFelix RoblesAlfredo RodriguezJesse RodriguezLeila RodriguezSusan RodriquezMaria-Teresa RomanRog RomanOnix RosadoKaren RungeMike RussellMatthew RybkaRob SadowskyKrista SahakianRonald SalemmeLauren SalmiJulie Samuels (Openlands Project)Miguel & Carmen SanchezLeif SandbergJoe Sanders (Friends of Bloomingdale Trail)Nelcy SantanaLuis SantiagoTroadis SatizabalBeth Satterfield

Name Organization Name Organization

Jeffrey SauerKarl SchmittFrank Schneider (Home Owners of Palmer Square)George Schneider (HAPS)John SchooleyDavid SchroederEugene SchulterJan Schultheiss (Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail)Rebecca SckrabulisJan SeefeldtIvan Segarra (Brentano School)Ben SeligmanSteve ShaversMatt & Amy ShobeAlex & Gina SilvaAnn SimonsonMatthew SmyczekNelly Smyser-DeLeonNick Snyder (EDC)Donna SolomonMiriam SolonNick Sommers (Wicker Park Advisory Council)Rene SorensonSteve Sorfman (CTA)Miguel Sotomayor (30th Ward Candidate)Michael Stanek (LSNA)Ron SteinAnastasia StingleyRuss StollMichael SturmJanet SurplusHoward SwitallaSam Tamburo (LSRA Community Garden)Irene Tangeros (HAPS)Christina Tate (East Logan Neighbors)Allan TerruttyMatt ThompsonChris ThuotKim TipreRebecca TiradoKelly & Christina ToalePeter TortorelloErma Tranter (Friends of the Parks)Gloria TrevinoAndrew TriegerKathleen Tully (Logan Triangle)Troy TweitenJacqui UlrichVicki VallartaLorenzo VallesLorraine VasquezLuis VelaGilberto VelezMichael VeltriMaribel VillegasGreg VitiDaniel VoGreg Vollan (BCO President, Clock Tower Lofts)Fikirte WagawPeter WalkerDyahanne WareMike WarnerRandy Warren (Chicagoland Bicycle Federation)Carl WasielcuishiThomas & Frances Wasko

Laura WeatheredDeborah WeisenhausChris WeissTodd Wictse (Chicagoland Bicycle Federation)Bill WiechersAnna WierzorekMichael Wilkinson (Wilkinson Blender Architecture)Jeff WillgaleMichael WillisAlex Wilson (CBF)Beth WilsonPatricia WoganSharon WoodhouseCarol Yasurage

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Name Organization Name Organization

Acknowledgments

Published by:City of ChicagoDepartment of Planning and Development121 N. LaSalle St., Room 1003Chicago, IL 60602(312) 744-5528Available online at www.cityofchicago.org/dpdAdopted by the Chicago Plan Commission, July 15, 2004

City of ChicagoRichard M. Daley, Mayor

Chicago Department of Planning and DevelopmentDenise M. Casalino, CommissionerDanita ChildersKathleen E. DickhutPaula FreezeAnne JaluzotBrenda McKenzie Jeannie ReinhardtPeter StrazzaboscoJack SwensonVal Zillig

Chicago Park DistrictTimothy J. Mitchell,

General Superintendent and CEOChris GentRobert MegquierCynthia MorenoArnold Randall

Chicago Department of TransportationMiguel d’Escoto, CommissionerBen GombergDonald GrabowskiLuann HamiltonTim LaterBeth MeierKeith PrivettLee RiveraBruce Worthington

Chicago Transit AuthorityCarlos CamposStephen DorfmanPeter FahrenwaldMary KramerBarry MullenSusan PlassmeyerMichael ShifferKevin StancielGlenn Zika

Chicago Public SchoolsBrentano Math and Science Academy, Reynes Reyes, PrincipalCharles R. Darwin Elementary School, Graciela Shelley, PrincipalChase Elementary School, Elizabeth Gonzales, PrincipalWolfgang A. Mozart Elementary School, Luis Losurdo, PrincipalRichard Yates Elementary School, Harry Randell, Principal

AldermenRey Colon, Alderman, 35th WardManuel Flores, Alderman, 1st WardTheodore Matlak, Alderman, 32nd WardBilly Ocasio, Alderman, 26th WardAriel E. Reboyras, Alderman, 30th WardRay Suarez, Alderman, 31st Ward

ConsultantsCTE EngineersJJR Smith GroupSite Design GroupTPAPJill Riddell

Community Members Attending Planning MeetingsSee Appendix III

ReferencesA Greater West Park System, Published by West Chicago ParkCommissioners, After the Plans of Jens Jensen, Chicago,MCMXX.

Chicago Park District Land Policies Plan: Guidelines for acquisitionand disposition of park land, Chicago Park District, 1990.

Chicago Park District 1993 Parkland Needs Analysis DRAFT, Officeof Research and Planning, Hazen Geographic Services.

CitySpace: An Open Space Plan for Chicago, City of Chicago,Chicago Park District, Forest Preserve District of Cook County,January 1998.

Life Along the Boulevards, City of Chicago, Eugene Sawyer, Mayor,Department of Planning, Elizabeth L. Hollander, Commissioner,January, 1989.

Report of the West Chicago Park on the $10,000,000 Bond Issue,Edited by Tomaz F. Deuther, 1927-1928, West Chicago ParkCommissioners, John Dill Robertson, President, Chicago.

Increasing and Improving Parks in the Logan Square Community Area

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