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The Bronzeville Trail Task Force (BTTF) has achieved a significant milestone in its mission to revitalize the community, securing a $900,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. Announced by Walter Freeman, Chairman of the BTTF, the grant will support the organization’s Bronzeville Trail Landscape Initiative, an ambitious project aimed at reshaping urban spaces while honoring the rich history of Bronzeville.
The funding comes from the Mellon Foundation’s “Humanities in Place” grant-making area, which supports innovative approaches to urban landscape research and design. This initiative represents a pivotal step in developing policies and strategies that connect the Bronzeville community’s history and culture with its future.
John E. Adams, CPA, and founder of the BTTF, was named Executive Director following the news of the grant. Adams, who established the task force in 2020, has served as Executive Director since 2023, dedicating his efforts to the project for just $1 per year. With this grant, he now steps into the organization’s first full-time paid role, a testament to his dedication and leadership.
“I am humbled; it is truly an honor to serve as the first executive director of the BTTF,” Adams shared. “Having a Bronzeville Trail in our community is a dream for myself, the board, and residents. It will literally be transformative as we take old land, part of the defunct Kenwood Rail Line built by Black workers during the Great Migration, and create a space to be enjoyed by bikers, runners, walkers, and anyone who loves nature and the outdoors.”
A key partner in the initiative is Botanical City, an urban and landscape design firm dedicated to justice-oriented design practices. Together, BTTF and Botanical City have launched the Bronzeville Trail Research, a collaborative effort to craft urban policies and landscape strategies rooted in Bronzeville’s unique history and culture. The partnership highlights the importance of blending art and science to develop public spaces that celebrate ancestral knowledge and respond to environmental challenges.
Since its founding, the BTTF has built strong community and institutional partnerships, raising $350,000 through volunteer efforts and receiving a $75,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust in 2022 for predevelopment planning. In addition to the Mellon Foundation grant, the City of Chicago has designated BTTF as its Leadership Partner for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s State Designated Cultural District award for Bronzeville.
Looking ahead to 2025, the BTTF anticipates city and county investment of over $5.5 million to launch the initial construction phase of the trail. Estimated to cost $100 million in total, the project is comparable to Chicago’s celebrated Bloomingdale 606 Trail on the city’s north side. However, the Bronzeville Trail aims to have an even broader impact, combining health and recreational benefits with the potential to drive hundreds of millions of dollars in community investment.
At its core, the Bronzeville Trail is more than a recreational pathway—it is a vision for community health, economic growth, and cultural celebration. As the project gains momentum, residents and supporters look forward to the transformative impact it will bring to Bronzeville.
For more information about the Bronzeville Trail project or to explore available opportunities, visit www.bronzevilletrail.org or email Bronzevilletrail@gmail.com.