Major Infrastructure Projects in Ward 44
Kelly Park Renovation
Renovations at John Kelly Park broke ground in December of 2025, and will soon transform the park into a more welcoming, accessible, and reflective community space while honoring its unique history. This project is guided by years of efforts from the Kelly Park Advisory Council, extensive community input, and a plan developed with professional landscape designers. It includes an improved and expanded play lot, upgraded pedestrian paths, enhanced and sustainable landscaping, and new cherry trees planted throughout the park. The plans also feature improved park entryways, safer pedestrian and vehicle crossings with traffic-calming elements, and an improved community gathering space designed to host neighborhood events. In addition, the renovations will enhance the memorial honoring John H. Kelly, a World War II veteran and neighborhood resident, while incorporating design elements that recognize the historic legacy of Lakeview’s Japanese community. See a presentation on the project here.
Lakeview Dog Park
Since 2020, The Lakeview Dog Park Council has worked to bring a large dog park to the 44th Ward. After shifting its original location, it will be located adjacent to Maradona Practice Field and the Diversey Driving Range. The Lakeview Dog Park is projected to begin construction in mid-2025 on what will become a 25,000 square-foot dog park. In partnership with the Lakeview Dog Park Council, Chicago Park District, Local donors, and supportmembers, Ald. Lawson has supported this project by committing $100,000 of Ward 44’s aldermanic budget towards the park. With various play areas, turf types, plants, and seating areas, the Lakeview Dog Park will act as a space that provides a safe area for owners to socialize their pets and reduce congestion on walking paths. For more information, or to learn how to become involved and donate, you can visit their website here!
Artificial Turf Field at Diversey
The Chicago Park District, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is bringing an artificial turf athletic field and improved natural area and picnic lawn located in Lincoln Park between Barry and Diversey, just west of Outer Lake Shore Drive. The field will be used to host practices for Lincoln Park High School and Lakeview High School sports, and will also be available for recreational use by the community.
CTA – Red & Purple Modernization Project
The Red and Purple Modernization Program (RPM) will completely rebuild the North Red Line from Belmont to Howard. In ward 44, construction is currently underway on the Red-Purple Bypass. This Bypass will eliminate a century-old bottleneck that prevents CTA from increasing train service. Currently, there is a flat rail intersection, all northbound have to cross over the four tracks used by northbound and southbound Red and Purple Line trains. With this new bypass, northbound Brown Line trains will proceed over the intersection on a dedicated track. This improvement will enable the CTA to better address growing demand and reduce overcrowding during rush hour periods. The completion of Red-Purple Bypass will allow for the addition of up to eight more red line trains per hour during rush periods, the accommodation of up to 7,200 additional customers per hour during rush periods, and increased red and purple line speeds by 60 percent through this intersection.
Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland Reconstruction
The Chicago Department of Transportation is engaged in an effort to improve the Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland intersection and extend the streetscape improvements east on Belmont.
Redefine the Drive
The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Transportation are directing the North Lake Shore Drive Phase 1 Study. Throughout the Phase 1 Study, the project team is charged with reviewing the current road configuration and redesigning the corridor and adjacent park trails into a more multi-modal system that accommodates people who walk, transit users, and auto users.