HUMBOLDT PARK — The 606, the less-than-a-year-old elevated railroad turned park and trail system, is set to receive a distinguished national urban design award.
The American Planning Association announced the trail was receiving the award for urban design Wednesday morning, stating the trail sets a new standard for American parks.
“The 606 is a stunning example of a community working together to realize a dream and create a city-wide attraction from underused city infrastructure,” said W. Shedrick Coleman, 2016 APA Awards Jury chair. “From the planning process to the implementation, The 606 sets a new standard for park planning throughout the country.”
The urban design award honors efforts to create a sense of place, whether a street, public space, neighborhood or campus, according to the American Planning Association.
The 606, completed last June, was developed in a partnership between the city, the Chicago Park District and the Trust for Public Land.
The elevated 2.7-mile trail system connects multiple neighborhoods including Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park, and includes a number of parks along its route.
The trail is the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the country.
"On behalf of all of our public, community and private partners and supporters, we deeply appreciate and are humbled by the APA's award to The 606," said Beth White, Chicago region director for The Trust for Public Land. "We are very gratified by the response The 606 has received from the countless members of the public who use the park and trail system every day."
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