Through Lines: An Exploration of Connections via Chicago's Alleyways

CHARACTER IMAGERY – CHATHAM
West of Martin Luther King Drive and between Meyering Park and Nat King Cole Park
FOCUS: CHATHAM
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Located on the South Side of Chicago, Chatham is
home to a significant history of Black and African-
American culture, architecture, arts, and cuisine. Due
to historic disinvestment, Chatham has substantial
gaps in access to non-motorized infrastructure, with
no protected bike lanes or greenways, and minimal
bike routes.
CHATHAM
focus alleyway
connects to
135
community
assets within a
5-minute walk
The alleyway of study is
currently used for rear garage
access, trash, electric utilities,
and stormwater management.
Running north/south, the
alleyway intersects a handful
of highly trafficked roadways
and could serve as a potential
connector between Nat King
Cole Park and Meyering
Park. For the purpose of
this study, alleyways longer
than 1 mile were identified
based on the assumption
that a “connected alleyway” is
defined as a series of routes
within 200 ft of each other.
Because of this assumption,
this alleyway study sees
multiple route disruptions.
The first disruption occurs
at 75th, where the alleyway
aligns perpendicular to a
vacant lot along 75th. The
second occurs along 79th,
where the alleyway abuts a
commercial strip. In both
cases, open space activation
and route continuation could
be considered.
AUGUSTUS TOLTON
CATHOLIC ACADEMY
Community Destinations
Focus Alleyway
Other Alleyways >1mi in Length
MEYERING
PARK
NAT
KING
COLE
PARK
WHITNEY YOUNG
CHICAGO PUBLIC
LIBRARY
BROWN
MEMORIAL
PARK
GRAND
CROSSING
PARK
46
THROUGH LINES | FOCUS: CHATHAM THROUGH LINES | FOCUS: CHATHAM
47