The Bloomingdale Trail

As part of a plan to bring more open space to Chicago’s northwest side, the city converted the underused Bloomingdale Rail embankment into a 2.7-mile elevated trail linking a series of grade-level parks. When active rail service ceased in the 1990s the embankment, which was built right on Bloomingdale Ave following the Great Chicago Fire, was reclaimed by community members as an impromptu trail. In the early 2000s the idea gained traction through several community-based visions and in 2004 as part of the Logan Square Open Space Plan. The linear park had widespread community support and input from the beginning, helping to develop the park’s design, function, and aesthetics. The Bloomingdale Trail opened in 2015, connecting four diverse neighborhoods, and bringing together arts, history, and design. The elevated Bloomingdale Trail welcomes approximately 1.2 million bikers, runners, and walkers a year and connects four existing and 2 planned adjacent ground-level parks. Combined, the Bloomingdale Trail plus it’s access parks are called The 606 —named for Chicago’s zip code prefix. The Bloomingdale Trail as well as several of the access parks were developed through a private partnership between the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, the Trust for Public Land. Today the parks are managed by the Chicago Park District and the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail as the Park Advisory Council.

The trail is located at the 1800 block north in Chicago, between Ashland (1600W) and Ridgeway (3750W), with 12 access points along its nearly three miles. For more info visit https://www.the606.org/ or https://www.bloomingdaletrail.org/

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The Burnham Wildlife Corridor

The Burnham Wildlife Corridor (BWC) is a 100-acre ribbon of urban wilderness running through Burnham Park. The corridor is composed of 3 main natural areas including the Burnham Centennial Prairie, Burnham Nature Sanctuary, and McCormick Bird Sanctuary. The corridor spans both sides of Lake Shore Drive, and is the largest stretch of natural area along Chicago’s lakefront. Its native prairie, savanna, and woodland ecosystems provide healthy, diverse habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, and offer opportunities for visitors to meaningfully connect to this revitalized public green space in ways that inspire nature exploration, enjoyment, and stewardship.

In the 20th century, much of the blues, R&B, and jazz that would go on to dominate the music scene was coming out of Chicago, specifically the South side, and the work of these artists continues to resonate throughout the city. Listening to this playlist, you can jump from the blues of Muddy Waters to the piano riffs of Lil Hardin Armstrong, or relax to the soothing voice of Mahalia Jackson, all while enjoying the diverse flora and fauna found along the Burnham Wildlife corridor.

The BWC is located runs from McCormick Place south to East 47th Street. For more info visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/burnham-wildlife-corridor

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The Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area

At over 140 acres, Marian R. Byrnes is one of the largest natural areas in Chicago. The site, situated in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood, contains marsh, wet prairie, prairie, savanna, and woodland habitats. It is a great place to observe wildlife including frogs, snakes, birds, and deer. This park was previously known as Park No. 562 and Van Vlissingen Prairie.

We pulled from the rich classical music scene in Chicago for this playlist, and delved into some of the artists who have worked with Chicago Philharmonic in our historic 33rd season, as well as some special guests who will be joining us soon, so if you want a sneak peak, throw this playlist on and enjoy the serenity and long walks offered at the Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area.

The Marian Byrnes Nature Area is located at 2200 E. 103rd St. Chicago, IL 60617. For more info visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/byrnes-marian-r-park

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