Collective River Voices Help Guide City’s Planning for the Future of the Calumet River

On March 18, future open space investment and river edge ideas for the Calumet River corridor was the subject of discussion for over 60 experts at the quarterly meeting of the City of Chicago’s River Ecology and Governance Task Force. The task force is a coalition that Friends of the Chicago River and the Metropolitan Planning Council provide leadership and administrative support to drive sustainable riverfront enhancement and ensure community voices are heard. The city’s update to the Calumet Area Land Use Plan and Design Guidelines, kicked off last year and is a critical modernization to policy that will set in place the future land use approach for the properties that surround the Calumet River. Friends’ planning team has participated in the project’s advisory working group, helped the city coordinate with area community organizations, and has provided valuable mapped data to support the city’s research efforts.

The task force meeting discussion was facilitated by city planners and their consultant team and focused on three vacant riverfront opportunity sites. The sites discussed include the Former Wisconsin Steel Site, the area near Dead Stick Pond and Indian Ridge Marsh South, and a site adjacent to Hegewisch Marsh. Participants were asked questions about what open space related improvements they thought would be appropriate for each opportunity site. Options presented included considerations for river edge trails, overlooks, habitat restoration, fishing, kayak/canoe launches, and others. This meeting was just one input opportunity for the city’s process, which will continue into next year and include public meetings and other activities.

Founded in 2019 through a mayoral executive order, the task force is an official collaborative river-issues-focused advisory body for the city of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. Comprised of community partners, nonprofits, and government agencies, the task force is a diverse coalition that works together with city of Chicago agencies on river-edge projects, plans, and activities. The task force meets through large-group quarterly meetings, where updates and input is gathered on river related policies, projects, and planning initiatives, and through smaller working groups that meet more frequently to advance tasks related to task force goals and work plans.