The Project

The Obama Presidential Center (OPC) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring tranformational cultural, economic, and educational benefits to the South Side and the entire City of Chicago. Chicago won the honor of hosting the President Barack Obama presidential center after a months-long process that included extensive community engagement.

The City of Chicago, through the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), is working on several roadway changes and transportation improvement projects in Jackson Park that will support the OPC and the Chicago Park District's South Lakefront Framework Plan (update of 1999 plan). When these projects are completed, they will support a revitalized Jackson Park and strengthen the surrounding area.

 
 

The City, the Chicago Park District and the Obama Foundation have offered a range of ways for the community to share feedback on the OPC, related transportation projects, the extensive federal review process, and updates to the South Lakefront Framework Plan.

Following a public process, the OPC was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission in May 2018, and subsequently the City Council. In addition, the OPC site and accompanying roadway changes designed to enhance connectivity and circulation in and around Jackson Park underwent a three-year federal review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, all of which required extensive public review. This process concluded in February 2021. The Chicago Department of Transportation will begin construction of the transportation improvements in early 2022.

The plan will create more than five acres of new green space by converting the following roadway segments to parkland:

  • Cornell Drive between North Midway Plaisance and Hayes Drive

  • South Midway Plaisance between Stony Island Avenue and Cornell Drive

  • Marquette Drive between Stony Island Avenue and Richards Drive

  • Northbound Cornell Drive from 68th Street to where Cornell becomes two-way

The transportation improvements will address changes in travel patterns resulting from these roadway closures. In addition, strategic safety and operational improvements to the surrounding transportation network will improve access and circulation for cyclists and pedestrians, while also ensuring that vehicle travel times do not increase. Improvements include:

  • Third southbound lane added to DuSable Lake Shore Drive from 57th Street to Hayes Drive

  • Improved capacity and safety on Hayes Drive between Cornell Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive

  • Additional travel lane in each direction on Stony Island Avenue from 59th Street to 65th Street, while maintaining street parking and loading lanes

  • Streetscape beautification on Stony Island Avenue with planted medians, left turn lanes at key intersections, and pedestrian refuge islands to enhance safety

  • Reconfiguration of the intersection of Stony Island, Midway Plaisance, and 59th and 60th Streets to improve capacity and pedestrian and traffic safety

  • 2.5 miles of new or reconstructed shared use pathways and sidewalks

  • 5 new underpasses for improved safety and mobility of pedestrians and cyclists

  • New pump station to address flooding at 59th Street pedestrian underpass under DuSable Lake Shore Drive

  • New interconnected traffic signals

  • New energy efficient LED street lighting

 

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