Friends’ Planning Director Helps Bring Visiting Urban Planners to the Chicago River

In Ocotber, Friends of the Chicago River’s planning director, Adam Flickinger, joined urban planners from across Illinois for an engaging walking workshop as part of the American Planning Association Illinois Chapter’s annual conference. The walking tour, led by our partners at AECOM and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) brought participants out on the water and into the field to explore the past, present, and future of Chicago’s riverfront public access.

A key focus of the tour was CDOT’s Chicago River Edge Access Study (CREAS) which is a new web-based dashboard tool designed to support long-term planning for a continuous and accessible riverfront trail system. The CREAS tool compiles data on existing trail segments, gaps, access points, environmental conditions, and community demographics, helping planners and agencies prioritize investments and coordinate across jurisdictions. The team from AECOM utilized Friends’ GIS data to inform their analysis.

“As stewards of the river’s ecological health and public access, Friends of the Chicago River is excited to see how tools like the CREAS can help shape a resilient, connected riverfront trail network," said Flickinger. “We remain committed to working alongside planners and agencies to ensure that redevelopment efforts enhance not just mobility and recreation, but also habitat, and long-term environmental health.”