Overview

The Bloomingdale Trail, widely known by its numeric nickname the 606, is an elevated linear park and shared-use path built on a former railroad embankment on Chicago's Northwest Side. Running roughly east–west along Bloomingdale Avenue, the corridor connects parks, neighborhood streets and public spaces while providing a continuous paved route for pedestrians, runners and bicyclists. The path is intended to serve both recreation and everyday transportation needs, bringing greenway amenities into dense urban blocks.

Design and physical characteristics

The trail occupies an elevated structure that rises above adjacent streets by roughly the height of a two-story building at its highest points. The path surface sits on reconstructed fill and a reinforced concrete cap; the paved running and cycling surface is flanked by planted areas, trees and lighting. The trail’s cross section includes a central travel lane intended for cyclists and a shoulder area for walkers and joggers, with seating, railings and landscape strips on either side. Designers retained many original masonry and retaining walls from the rail era, integrating historic fabric with new plantings and infrastructure. Access to street level is provided by numerous ramps and at least one staircase, creating multiple entry points into surrounding neighborhoods.

History and development

The elevated corridor began life as the Bloomingdale Line, a freight and industrial rail structure completed in the early 20th century. By the late 20th century rail use had declined and the embankment became an underused urban relic. A coalition led by the City of Chicago, the local park district and conservation organizations proposed converting the right-of-way into public open space. The first construction phase of the resulting 606 park and trail opened in mid-2015 after community planning, fundraising and construction that adapted the rail structure into a modern, accessible trail.

Uses, community role and examples

The Bloomingdale Trail is a multiuse facility used daily for commuting, exercise and informal gatherings. It links several parks and neighborhood streets, and serves as a linear connector between residential areas and transit options. Small public events, neighborhood walks and cycling groups frequently use the corridor. The route’s planted buffers and benches create pocket spaces where people can pause, and sightlines along the elevated route offer views above the street level that are unusual in Chicago’s grid.

Impact, recognition and controversies

The 606 has been recognized by planning organizations for its urban design and creative reuse of infrastructure; it received national planning honors soon after opening. The trail also changed the economic landscape of adjacent blocks: residential and commercial property values near the corridor rose, a pattern that spurred conversations about equity, displacement and the need for community benefits. Local leaders and advocates continue to discuss ways to steward the park while minimizing negative impacts on long-term residents.

Access, phases and future directions

The initial segment runs approximately 2.7 miles, with an eastern terminus located near a neighborhood park and its western reach planned to extend farther as additional phases are completed. The city renamed the route officially as the Bloomingdale Trail in 2020, although the 606 nickname remains common. Proposals for further extensions, river crossings and enhanced neighborhood connections have been debated by aldermen and community groups. For additional planning documents and updates see Bloomingdale Trail resources.

  • Length: about 2.7 miles (multiuse corridor)
  • Users: cyclists, walkers, runners and casual visitors
  • Features: paved central lane, planted shoulders, benches, lighting and multiple ramps
  • Origins: converted from the early 20th-century Bloomingdale rail embankment