Revitalize the Kenwood “L” Line Embankment

The Bronzeville Trail Task Force, Inc.— organized in 2000—is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation recognized under the Internal Revenue Service Code (IRC) Section 501(c)3 as a public charity.

Our goal is to develop the abandoned Kenwood “L” Line embankment (originally named the Stock Yard Line), located in the Bronzeville community in Chicago, into a walking, running, and biking trail (“the Trail”) linear park. The rail line has been an abandoned municipal asset for over 65 years. The Trail would emulate the Bloomingdale Trail on Chicago’s north side. Luckily, the embankment of the Kenwood “L” Line remains intact and is owned by the Cook County Land Bank. The Trail would start at about 40th & Dearborn St. on the west end and proceed about 2 miles to the east to 41st St. and Lake Park Ave. In addition, the east-end access point has the potential of connecting to the 41st St. Pedestrian Bridge, thereby providing access to the 25-mile lakefront biking/walking path. The Bronzeville Trail would encourage a healthy lifestyle for its residents and provide scenic and safe access to the lakefront path without traffic interference. We estimate that the Trail will cost approximately $100 million dollars.

Your donation will help fund our 2023 operations. In addition to repurposing an abandoned community asset, the BTTF will launch three companion projects; they are the: Major Taylor Initiative, Bronzeville Trail History Project, and a 2023 summer applied science program that encourages high school-aged students to consider architecture and engineering as a career.