The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will develop the southern 40 acres of Northerly Island, thanks to a $2.8 million federal grant and $1.5 million in Park District revenues generated by the concert venue at Northerly Island.
To pave the way for a dramatic increase in camping, kayaking, sailing, fishing and other outdoor activities, the Army Corps is expected to restore shoreline habitats, coastal wetland, “coastal plant communities” and install a pond hydraulically controlled through Lake Michigan ground water.
A multi-purpose trail, nature trails, boardwalks, camping areas, viewpoints, rolling hills, native plantings and tree plantings are also planned, as part of the ambitious project, sources said.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Park District Superintendent Michael Kelly are scheduled to hold a news conference at the Field Museum on Thursday to announce the upgrades.
Best of all it sounds like construction on this plan will start in November:
The work is expected to begin in November and be completed in the spring of 2014, followed by a five-year maintenance program.Sounds good to us.
(Hat tip: ND!)
