Chicago Is Turning an Abandoned Rail Line Into a 1.8-Mile Elevated Nature Trail

After years of planning, the city is moving forward with the Englewood Nature Trail, a 1.8-mile elevated greenway that will transform a former railroad corridor into a new community-focused outdoor space in Englewood.

The project is often compared to the The 606 Trail, the 2.7-mile path on the Northwest Side that turned an old rail line into one of the city’s most popular recreational spaces. But while the 606 helped reshape neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Logan Square, this new trail is being designed with a different focus, rooted in community input and long-term neighborhood investment.

A New Elevated Greenway on the South Side

The Englewood Nature Trail will run east to west from Wallace Street to Hoyne Avenue, roughly between 58th and 59th Streets. Along the way, it will cross 26 viaducts and connect residential blocks, gardens and local gathering spaces.

The goal isn’t just to create a walking and biking path, it’s to build a multi-use green space that reflects the needs of the surrounding community.

The project is being led by the Chicago Department of Transportation, which has been working directly with residents through public meetings and workshops.

At a recent community meeting, early design concepts were presented, giving residents the opportunity to shape everything from landscaping to amenities before plans are finalized.

That community-first approach has been a central theme from the start.

What the Trail Could Include

While final designs are still being developed, early concepts suggest the trail could feature:

Walking and biking paths
Green landscaping and native plantings
Community gathering spaces
Connections to neighborhood streets and parks
Areas for art, seating and local programming

The idea is to create something that feels less like a traditional park and more like a neighborhood connector, tying together different parts of Englewood in a way that hasn’t existed before.

Timeline and What’s Next

The project is still in its planning phase, but key milestones are already in place:

Final design guidelines are expected soon
Another public meeting is planned next winter
Construction is currently projected to begin between 2027 and 2029

That timeline reflects both the scale of the project and the city’s effort to continue gathering feedback before moving into full construction.

Why This Project Matters

Projects like the 606 showed how transformative elevated trails can be, but they also sparked conversations around development, displacement and long-term neighborhood impact.

The Englewood Nature Trail is being approached with those lessons in mind.

City officials and planners have emphasized the importance of making this a community-driven investment, not just a recreational upgrade. The goal is to create a space that serves current residents while supporting long-term growth in the area.

As one transportation planner noted during community discussions, projects like this are about more than just infrastructure, they’re about reconnecting neighborhoods and creating new opportunities for public space.

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