CHICAGO — The mayor’s office announced Wednesday that the city is on track to break ground on the Bloomingdale Trail by this summer.
The long-awaited linear park that will go through Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park has been years in the making, but various roadblocks — mostly having to do with land acquisition — have slowed the project down.
“The Bloomingdale Park and Trail will be one the most unique and user-friendly open spaces to be developed anywhere in the country,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a news release.
The mayor’s office announced Wednesday a $95,000 purchase of vacant land at 1759 N. Milwaukee Ave., which will be one of six access points to the park.
The 2,700-square-foot site will be paid for with Open Space Impact Fees, according to a statement.
The city also approved $2.9 million in TIF funds to create two new rail spurs near the western end of the future trail.
The 2.7-mile, 13-acre park is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014 at a total price tag of $91 million.
Operational agreements approved Wednesday will have the Chicago Park District maintain the trail through a $1 lease from the city, the statement said.
