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Gensler | 28 Gensler | 29 <br />Englewood Nature Trail <br />Community Engagement & Master Plan <br />Chicago, IL <br />The Englewood Nature Trail presents a unique opportunity to <br />create a neighborhood anchoring amenity for members of the <br />Englewood community which will support economic growth and <br />community revitalization. <br />Gensler is working with the City of Chicago, <br />Department of Planning and Development as well <br />as the Department of Transportation to repurpose <br />1.75 miles of an abandoned railroad into a natural <br />recreation trail in the Englewood neighborhood <br />on the city’s South Side. Known as the Englewood <br />Nature Trail, the recreational path will incorporate <br />bike paths and a walking trail on the elevated <br />rail embankment while preserving the natural <br />landscape that has taken over the rail line since it <br />was shuttered in the early 1970’s. <br />The trail will serve as the spine to a larger plan that <br />will serve as a catalyst for revitalization for the <br />nation’s first Agro-Eco district, where Englewood <br />will serve as a economic center for urban <br />agriculture for both indoor and outdoor farming. <br />This emerging, neighborhood based plan is focused <br />on supporting racial equity and economic growth <br />in a historically disadvantaged community. It <br />1.75 miles <br />230 acres <br />Completed 2023 <br />Services Provided <br />Community Engagement <br />Master Planning <br />Architectural Design <br />Urban Design <br />will also provide employment opportunities to <br />local residents and build upon the growing urban <br />agricultural presence that has been in place for the <br />last 10 years. <br /> <br />Since Gensler began the planning process, the <br />Englewood Nature Trail has secured more than $35 <br />million in state and federal grants from the State of <br />Illinois and the US Department of Transportation. <br />In a series of community engagement sessions <br />throughout 2022 and 2023, Gensler and the City <br />of Chicago collaborated with members of the <br />Englewood community to listen to their feedback <br />and goals for the development of the trail. Top <br />concerns were job creation, adaptive reuse of <br />buildings and promoting active transportation and <br />connections to transit, as well as improve safety <br />and mobility. All have been incorporated into the <br />plan and are in the process of being implemented. <br />f.OCNC Experience & Qualificationsf.OCNC Experience & Qualifications <br />Docusign Envelope ID: EA417244-1B08-4F71-884E-045B78625FB7