West Englewood's Future Green Trail Is Taking Shape — and Neighbors Are Helping Design It
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/West Englewood ·
A long-envisioned ribbon of green through the heart of West Englewood is officially moving from dream to blueprint — and the community gets to hold the pen. The City of Chicago's Department of Planning & Development and Department of Transportation have launched a series of development framework meetings for the planned Englewood Nature Trail, converting a former Norfolk Southern railroad right-of-way into a community trail and green corridor. The design team — which includes Gensler, PRI, Botanical City Landscape, and beloved local organization Grow Greater Englewood (GGE) — is leading neighbors through six monthly meetings this summer and fall to ensure the trail's final design reflects what West Englewood residents actually want: public access, green amenities, and improvements to surrounding blocks.
GGE is spearheading the community participation piece, putting local voices front and center in decisions about one of the neighborhood's most exciting infrastructure investments in years. These meetings are West Englewood's chance to shape a landmark project that will link green space, recreation, and neighborhood pride for generations to come.
Meanwhile, the broader Englewood economic ecosystem keeps building momentum. Local leaders from Teamwork Englewood, E.G. Woode, Grow Greater Englewood, and the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce are actively collaborating around shared ownership models and community wealth-building — a reminder that West Englewood's resurgence is being driven by the people who live and work here. Want to plug in? Visit growgreater.org to learn about upcoming Englewood Nature Trail community meetings and make your voice heard.
Sources:
1. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/englewood-trail/home/Events.html
2. https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/event/2/3588/englewood-economics-how-community-and-capital-are-coming-together-to-drive-resur