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 initiative 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. "The Trail will prove to be the most catalytic and transformative project in the history of Bronzeville and may induce over $1 Billion dollars of investment," Adams stated.
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. 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 initiative matters because it addresses long-standing infrastructure disparities on Chicago's south side while honoring the area's historical significance. The transformation of the abandoned Kenwood Line into a recreational trail has implications for environmental justice, community health, economic development, and cultural preservation. By converting neglected infrastructure into accessible green space, the project directly confronts historical patterns of disinvestment while creating new opportunities for physical activity, community gathering, and ecological restoration.
The workforce development component further amplifies the project's importance by creating pathways to construction careers for local residents, ensuring community members benefit from both the construction process and the finished trail. The potential for over $1 billion in induced investment suggests this project could serve as a catalyst for broader economic revitalization in Bronzeville, making it a model for how infrastructure projects can address multiple community needs simultaneously. The recognition of early supporters at the luncheon highlights the collaborative nature of this effort and the importance of sustained partnerships in achieving transformative community development.
