The South Side of Chicago has long been the site of systemic disinvestment and larger populations of color than both the broader city of Chicago and the Chicago metropolitan area. The South Side of the city is separated from the shore of Lake Michigan and its amenities by a substantial linear geographic barrier- Lake Shore Drive, recently renamed Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and the Metra train tracks that run alongside it. Among the amenities is Lakefront Trail, a multi-use trail that runs along the lake shore and connects users to beaches, playgrounds, and monuments while serving as a form of recreation itself. Since 2000, multiple long-term connectivity and planning projects have allowed for an increase in the number of crossings between neighborhoods on the South Side and Lakefront Trail.
This project used geospatial data collected in the field as well as Census data to examine 1) the racial demographics of the area, and 2) the distance between crossings of Lake Shore Drive. This project found that prior to 2000, there was a substantial gap in crossings of Lake Shore Drive, in the portion of the study area with the highest percentage of individuals identifying as Black or African American Alone. Since 2000, the installation of pedestrian bridges in the area has allowed for increased connectivity to waterfront amenities from nearby neighborhoods. This indicates that the public infrastructure projects and initiatives in the area have effectively made lakeshore amenities more accessible to neighborhoods of color, advancing equity on the South Side. Working on this research project allowed me to gain experience creating geospatial datasets and connecting geospatial data to long term planning principles. It also allowed me to connect geospatial concepts to social and racial justice issues in the urban planning field.
Author(s): Alexandria Coffman, Urban Planning and Geography Major
Advisor(s): Susan Jakubowski, Department of Geography
You must be logged in to post a comment.