The wonderful lakefront is undoubtedly a major reason Chicago has such a good international reputation. But it is also a great contributor to the quality of life in Chicago. Not only is it of great aesthetic value but it is wonderful for biking, walking, skating, fishing, sailing, playing ball, etc. We owe this to previous leaders who had the foresight to build this wonderful lakefront park.
Now that the Army Corps of Engineers is negotiating with the city to build protection for the lakefront, it is time to extend the lakeshore park from Hollywood Avenue to Howard Street. It would also be an excellent opportunity to extend Lake Shore Drive and relieve the 46th Ward of the traffic problems that bedevil the area. Later, the state could tie Lake Shore Drive into the Edens Expressway by using the right-of-way of the old North Shore Railroad.
Doing this would greatly enhance quality of life and would be something we could all be proud of for generations. Let’s get moving on this long-overdue project.
