A Sense of Discovery: From Elevated Trails to Hot Lava Paths in Chicago

Join Eugene native and Chicago open space organizer Ben Helphand as he leads us on a walk through the community-based origins of some of the Windy City’s most playful places.

Helphand was the co-founder of The Bloomingdale Trail, the World’s longest elevated greenway, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary and 12 million visitors.

He’ll give us a window into the project’s origins, including its interactions with neighborhood activists and trespassers, and examine how it has transformed the everyday lives of Chicagoans while inspiring a range of other trail projects across the city.

Turning to the smaller scale, Ben Helphand will also take us into the world of play gardens. As the Executive Director of NeighborSpace, an urban land trust, Helphand has overseen the creation of 6 community-managed nature play areas.

Rather than swings and slides, these are spaces where kids can create new worlds with sticks, seed pods, and boulders. Here, logs become ships and stepping stones, the only way through hot lava pathways.

Parks Legacy Annual Award 

At the event, we will honor The Obsidians with the Parks Legacy Award, celebrating the people, the organization, and their lasting contributions to our community.

November 20th, 5:30 – 7 pm, The Shedd Institute.