Northerly Island

Northerly Island
Name	Northerly Island
Location	Lake Michigan
Coordinates	41°49′22″N 87°35′54″W
Area	91 acres
Country	United States
State	Illinois
City	Chicago
Borough	Near South Side

Northerly Island is a 91-acre man-made peninsula on the Near South Side lakefront created as part of the Plan of Chicago by Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett. Once the site of Meigs Field and a municipal airport, the site was redeveloped into an urban park and nature area connected to Grant Park and the Museum Campus near the Field Museum of Natural History. The island has been the focus of debates involving the Chicago Park District, mayoral administrations, and civic groups such as the Chicago Park Conservancy and Friends of the Parks.

History

The peninsula originated in the early 20th century as part of the 1909 Plan of Chicago championed by Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett to extend the Lake Michigan shoreline and establish a system linking Grant Park to new cultural institutions like the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium. Reclaimed land and landfill projects connected the site to the Chicago Lakefront Trail and created a seaplane and later an airfield used by Meigs Field from the 1940s until the controversial closure ordered by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2003; that action provoked litigation involving the Illinois Aviation Administration and drew attention from federal entities including the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. Proposals over decades from figures such as Mayor Jane Byrne, Mayor Harold Washington, and private developers intersected with plans from the Chicago Park District and nonprofit advocates like the Trust for Public Land and the Chicago Architecture Foundation (now Chicago Architecture Center).

Geography and Ecology

The site forms a curved peninsula on Lake Michigan adjacent to the Northerly Island Nature Reserve and sits near landmarks including the McCormick Place complex, the Soldier Field stadium, and the Museum Campus Chicago. Vegetation and habitats were restored through collaboration with the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Department of Aviation, and ecological groups such as the Audubon Society and Chicago Wilderness; native prairie plantings attracted species monitored by organizations like the Field Museum of Natural History and birding groups including the Chicago Ornithological Society. Avifauna observed on the peninsula include migrants tracked by the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and species identified by volunteers from the National Audubon Society and researchers from nearby universities like University of Chicago and University of Illinois Chicago. Stormwater management and shoreline stabilization involved coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers and environmental assessments under state agencies including the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Design and Development

Long-term planning drew on design competitions and input from firms and institutions such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Burnham Plan Centennial, and the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Redevelopment phases addressed landscape architecture, with work from practitioners influenced by precedents at Millennium Park and consultants engaged by the Chicago Park District and Mayoralties including Mayor Richard M. Daley and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The conversion from airfield to park required demolition protocols overseen by the Chicago Department of Transportation and procurement processes subject to review by the Chicago City Council and legal counsel including the Cook County State's Attorney. Funding combined city capital budgets, philanthropic grants from foundations like the MacArthur Foundation and (philanthropic partners), and public-private initiatives aligned with the Museum Campus master plans.

Recreation and Attractions

The peninsula hosts trails that connect to the Chicago Lakefront Trail and recreational areas used by runners, cyclists, and families visiting attractions near the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium. Temporary installations and performance spaces have been used for festivals organized by entities such as the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and promoters linked to venues like Spring Awakening and citywide events including Taste of Chicago spin-offs. The landscape includes native prairies designed for passive recreation and birdwatching promoted by groups like the Lincoln Park Conservancy and education programs run by the Chicago Park District and museum partners.

Transportation and Access

Access is primarily via the Solidarity Drive and links to the Museum Campus transit corridor; nearby transit nodes include Metra connections and bus routes operated by the Chicago Transit Authority. Bicycle access ties into the Lakefront Trail and city bike-share programs like Divvy; pedestrian connections integrate with promenades serving visitors en route to Grant Park and adjacent institutions such as the Field Museum of Natural History. Parking and vehicular circulation have been subjects of municipal planning by the Chicago Department of Transportation and oversight by the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications during major events.

Events and Cultural Use

The site has accommodated concerts, fairs, and civic gatherings coordinated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, private promoters, and nonprofit cultural institutions including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for outreach projects. Film shoots and media productions have used the location with permits processed through the City of Chicago film office and legal coordination with the Chicago Park District. Environmental education initiatives have been run jointly by the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and local universities such as the University of Chicago and DePaul University, while advocacy campaigns by groups like Friends of the Parks and the Trust for Public Land shaped programming and stewardship.

Category:Chicago islands