Friends of the Crosstown Trail

10/02/2026

For anyone looking to spend an afternoon outside tomorrow and help the community, our rescheduled volunteer event with Lurie Children's is tomorrow!

Join us for a walkability study at Kelvyn Park PAC where volunteers will collect data on safety, access, and potential trail use to support planning, community health, and advocacy.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesFQRsRD5V8ZU4NDnC2Rb2Gfw-tbGwyQQTJotWUtn02rHisA/viewform

Hope to see you there!

07/07/2026

Friends of the Crosstown Trail is partnering with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago for a community walkability assessment near Kelvyn Park—and we’d love your help.

Volunteers will spend the afternoon observing nearby intersections and collecting simple data on safety, access, and potential trail use. No experience is needed, and we’ll provide a brief orientation before data collection begins.

This is a hands-on way to support the trail vision, meet neighbors, and help gather information that can move the work forward.

Individuals, families, and neighbors are welcome. Refreshments, snacks, and sunscreen will be provided. Additional details will be shared about one week before the event.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXuQjsr2vJDktctgh8yivVSUgfGAYJOy8uPI_5rZBXbTwoYQ/viewform

06/18/2026

We are grateful (and genuinely excited) to share this deep dive on the Crosstown Trail from Carl Allen / and Cyrus Dowlatshahi. He tells the story of the corridor, why this is such a rare opportunity for Chicago, and what a future trail and linear park could mean for our Northwest Side neighborhoods.

Give it a watch (link in bio and stories today) on the Built World YouTube channel today!

06/05/2026

We’re grateful (and genuinely excited) to share this deep dive on the Crosstown Trail from Carl Allen / Built World and Cyrus Dowlatshahi. He tells the story of the corridor, why this is such a rare opportunity for Chicago, and what a future trail and linear park could mean for our Northwest Side neighborhoods.

Give it a watch, share it with a neighbor, and tell us in the comments: How would you use the Crosstown Trail?

YouTube link:

On Chicago's Northwest side lies and opportunity that planners and ...

05/30/2026

Who’s ready for a hot dog?? We will see you all weekend at the Windy City Hot Dog Fest as part of the “Future of the Six Corners” section! Stop by, grab some swag, learn about our project, and eat a few hot dogs 🌭

05/21/2026

📣Volunteer training, Wednesday, May 27, 7-8 p.m.📣

If you’ve been following the Crosstown Trail project and thinking, “I’d love to help, but I’m not sure how,” we're hosting a volunteer training next week where you can learn about canvassing and helping out at booth events this summer with Friends of the Crosstown Trail!

Join us for a one-hour virtual training to learn what volunteer ambassadors do, what opportunities are coming up, and how you can plug in at a level that fits your schedule.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/y6qFcpUOS0mEMtqB1sILsw #/registration

04/22/2026

It’s Earth Day, so we’re celebrating with something big: our completed Crosstown Trail Vision Document. 🌎🌿💛

Featuring cover art by local artist Joan de Art Studio, this document lays out what we’re working toward. It includes the proposed trail route map, community feedback, neighborhood impact, and key priorities for bringing the Crosstown Trail to life.

🦆 Why a Vision Document?
Because it gives us a clear, formal foundation to have deeper conversations with elected officials, community groups, nonprofits, and agency partners—and to help build the support and funding needed to move from idea to reality.

🦆 What’s next:
We’re working with affected ward offices to request a City-led feasibility study to assess what it would take to make the Crosstown Trail happen. Alders Ruth Cruz (30th) and Jim Gardiner (45th) have already signed on.

🦆 Check out the full Vision Document (PDF):
https://crosstownchi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ctt-vision-doc-2026-public.pdf

🦆 Want to help? Sign the petition + join our mailing list:
https://crosstownchi.org/

Thank you to the elected officials, community partners, and neighbors who keep showing up and helping move this forward.

04/16/2026

It’s here! Our Crosstown Trail flyover video.
We’re so excited (and honestly pretty proud) to share a duck’s-eye view of the corridor as it exists today — and what it could become as a future Chicago trail.

Want to help move this forward? Sign the petition and join our mailing list at crosstownchi.org. 🦆

03/25/2026

Spring is officially on. 🌷🐣 Friends of the Crosstown Trail will be at OIPA’s Spring Egg Hunt—our first event of the season—and we’d love to see you there! Stop by our table to say hi, grab some Crosstown Trail goodies, and get the latest on what we’re building together. See you on the field! 🚲🦆

Time to mark your calendars for OIPA's annual spring egg hunt on Saturday, 3/28 at 10 AM, Belding Elementary field.

Join us for an egg hunt for ages 0-10, pictures with The Bunny, and more neighborhood spring fun. Want to help sponsor? Email the Parents Committee (see flyer).