Pedal to the Metal: New Bike Lanes & Greenways Proposed to Connect Jefferson Park's Streets This Spring

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Jefferson Park · April 4, 2026

Big changes could be coming to the streets of Jefferson Park — and cyclists, families, and pedestrians have plenty of reason to be excited. New bike lanes and neighborhood greenways are being proposed for several side and arterial streets in Jefferson Park and Portage Park, covering an area primarily bounded by Laramie Avenue on the east, Gunnison Street on the north, Nagle/Narragansett Avenue on the west, and Addison Street on the south. The plan, put forward by the Chicago Department of Transportation, is designed to make bike travel safer for families and improve accessibility to local destinations across the Northwest Side.

The proposed network would span parts of the 30th, 38th, and 45th Wards, with some new lanes linking up to existing infrastructure already in place around the neighborhood. CDOT notes that greenway designs can vary by community based on factors like traffic flow and street width — meaning Jefferson Park residents could have real input on what their streets look like. Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th) indicated he'd be monitoring the project closely, with assurances that very little street parking would be removed.

Want to weigh in on what's coming to your block? Mark your calendar for the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce's April General Monthly Meeting on Thursday, April 9, at the Copernicus Center Annex, 5214 W. Lawrence Ave. — a great opportunity to stay connected and make your voice heard. And don't forget: Jefferson Park Forward's annual Bar Crawl fundraiser hits five beloved neighborhood bars on Saturday, April 25, starting at 2 p.m. at Windsor Tavern. Tickets are available on Eventbrite — but they will sell out, so grab yours now!

Sources:
1. https://nadignewspapers.com/new-bike-lanes-greenways-proposed-for-jefferson-park-portage-park-on-chicagos-nw-side/
2. https://www.jeffersonparkchamber.com/events
3. https://www.jeffersonparkforward.org/2026-jefferson-park-bar-crawl/