The Major Taylor Trail is one of Chicago’s first rails-to-trails projects, opened in 2007 and built upon an abandoned railroad line connecting Dan Ryan Woods at its northern end to Whistler Woods at its southern end.

Since 2022, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has been working on two plans centering on the Major Taylor Trail: One that addresses land uses around the trail in West Pullman, and one cataloging the planned improvements and recommendations for the entirety of the trail itself.

Details on each plan and copies of the draft documents are below. DPD anticipates both of these plans will be introduced to the Chicago Plan Commission in June 2025.

Major Taylor Trail Land Use Framework

The Major Taylor Trail Land Use Framework is a City-led initiative focused on activating the Major Taylor Trail and catalyzing equitable development in the area.

The trail, named after celebrated African American cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, stretches from 82nd Street to the Little Calumet River. The study area for this land use plan zeroes in on the area of the trail from 104th Street to 125th Street, which includes Beverly, Morgan Park and West Pullman. The planning process is intended to bring together community members to find a common vision for the future of the trail and the surrounding area.

Following the initiative's launch in fall 2022, the land use plan team has collected data and engaged in public outreach efforts to develop a set of recommendations to bring this hidden gem to its full potential.

A draft of the Major Taylor Trail Land Use Framework was made available for review in April 2025.

Major Taylor Trail Consolodation Plan

The Major Taylor Trail Consolodation Plan is the first planning document in the trail's 20-year history that takes a holistic approach to futue goals and improvements, accounting for the different agencies and groups responsible for operating and maintaing the trail.

Since 2015, multiple studies and plans to improve the Major Taylor Trail have been developed by government and advocacy organizations, but these efforts were separated by agency, and none addressed the entirety of the trail. DPD, in coordination with the Trust for Public Land, convened agencies and community groupsfor several meetings to discuss the trail. After meeting with partners and reviewing existing plans, a set of challenges, opportunities and action items were identified to guide trail planning through 2035.

A draft of the Major Taylor Trail Consolodation Plan was made available for review in April 2025.

Agencies and organizations that participated in the planning process include:

• Chicago Park District
• Chicago Department of Transportation
• Chicago Department of Planning and Development
• Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways
• Forest Preserves of Cook County
• Friends of the Major Taylor Trail
• Major Taylor Trail Keepers

Questions and comments can be directed via email to dpd@cityofchicago.org.