Neighbors Rally Behind Crosstown Trail: A Proposed Rails-to-Trails Path Could Stitch Portage Park Into Chicago's Greenway Future

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Portage Park · March 5, 2026

Portage Park could soon be linked to a sweeping new off-street trail stretching across Chicago's Northwest Side — and local neighbors are leading the charge to make it happen. Residents are actively working to bring the proposed Crosstown Trail to life, a rails-to-trails conversion that would thread through Old Irving Park, Irving Park, Portage Park, Kilbourn Park, Belmont Cragin, and Hermosa, creating a continuous greenway corridor for cyclists, joggers, and families alike.

The effort comes amid a broader wave of active-transportation momentum on the Northwest Side. The Chicago Department of Transportation recently held a community open house — tonight, March 5, at the Portage Park Senior Center at 4001 N. Long Ave. — to discuss a separate neighborhood bike network proposal, signaling that city planners and residents are increasingly aligned on making Portage Park more walkable and bikeable. The Crosstown Trail represents an even grander vision: a dedicated, off-street path that would give residents a safe, scenic route entirely separated from traffic.

For a neighborhood already buzzing with new investment at Six Corners and a growing influx of young families, the Crosstown Trail could be the next landmark improvement that defines Portage Park's future. Residents eager to see the trail become a reality are encouraged to follow updates through the Portage Park Chamber of Commerce at portageparkchamber.org and to share their support at the next Portage Park Advisory Council meeting, held on the fourth Monday of odd-numbered months at 7:00 PM in the park fieldhouse.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/portage-park-neighbors-can-weigh-in-on-proposed-bike-lanes-at-march-5-meeting/