Chicago Lakefront Trail

The Chicago Lakefront Trail (LFT[1]) is a 18.5-mile-long (29.8 km)[2] partial shared-use path for walking, jogging, skateboarding, and cycling, located along the western shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. The trail passes through and connects Chicago's four major lakefront parks along with various beaches and recreational amenities. It also serves as a route for bicycle, skateboard and personal transporter commuters. On busy summer days 70,000 people use the trail.[2]

Chicago Lakefront Trail
Length18.5 miles (29.8 km)
LocationChicago, Illinois, US
Established1963 (1963)
Trailheads
UseCycling, skateboarding, scootering, personal transporter, and pedestrians
DifficultyEasy
SeasonLimited access during winter
Trail map

The LFT is located wholly within the Chicago city limits and spans from 7100 South/2560 East to 5800 North/1000 West. It is a dedicated-use path, although frequent intersections do pose a threat to path users. These intersections are clearly signed both to path users and motorists. From north to south, it runs through Lincoln Park, Grant Park, Burnham Park, and Jackson Park.

History

In 1963, Mayor Richard J. Daley designated the LFT as the city's first official bike path. Over the years it grew in popularity.[3] In 2017 and 2018 the Trail Separation Project sought to add capacity and increase safety by providing separation of bike and foot traffic lanes, utilizing both widened, dedicated lanes and in some areas newly constructed and separately dedicated path sections.[4]

An additional improvement was added with the construction of the Navy Pier Flyover, a dedicated bridge over the Chicago River. From Wacker Drive to Illinois Street the Lakefront Trail shared the pedestrian sidewalk on lower-level Lake Shore Drive. In order to reduce the conflicts between pedestrians and bicyclists, and avoid the very busy intersections at Illinois Street and Grand Avenue, the Chicago Department of Transportation started designing the Navy Pier Flyover in 2000. This bridge runs alongside the upper level of Lake Shore Drive from north of the Ohio Street Beach to Illinois Street, and then alongside the lower level of Lake Shore Drive as it crosses the Chicago River, with an exit in the middle serving Navy Pier and DuSable Park.[5] Construction began in spring 2014 and was originally planned to be completed in 2018.[6][7] The project experienced multiple delays, but was finished in May 2021.[8]

Attractions

Some attractions along the path (listed from south to north) are the South Shore Cultural Center, the Museum of Science and Industry, McCormick Place, Soldier Field, Chicago's Museum Campus, Monroe Harbor, Navy Pier, Belmont Harbor, and the Waveland Clock Tower. The Lakefront Trail connects most of the Chicago beaches and three skate parks (31st Street, Grant Park, Wilson Avenue). Several dog parks are accessible from the trail.[9]

Maintenance

Path maintenance is provided by the Chicago Park District. The Lakefront Trail is open 24 hours a day, but the parks and beaches along the path close at 11 PM.

See also

References
  1. Budget Summary (PDF), Chicago Park District, 2018, p. 56
  2. "Chicago Park District Lakefront Trail Counts" (PDF). chicagoparkdistrict.com. Chicago Park District. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. "Biking and Chicago's Lakefront Trail". Chicago Architecture Center - CAC. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  4. "Lakefront Trail". Chicago Park District. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  5. Navy Pier Flyover presentation
  6. Navy Pier Flyover website
  7. Freund, Sara (2019-10-10). "Navy Pier flyover won't open until spring 2020 now". Curbed. Archived from the original on 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  8. Pratt, Gregory; Ford, Liam (May 10, 2021). "Work on Navy Pier Flyover – Key to Improving Lakefront Trail – Is Complete, Chicago Officials Say". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 11, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Vivanco, Leonor (31 July 2017). "Dog park opens in Edgewater". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 November 2017.

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