Open Space and Sustainability Plans

DPD's Planning bureau maintains an updated list of Open Space and Sustainability Plans that guide green development throughout Chicago.

Adding Green to Urban Design

Adopted in 2008, Adding Green To Urban Design presents a rationale, a vision and a detailed implementation strategy for economically sound and environmentally sustainable urban design.

A Recipe for Healthy Places

Adopted in 2013, A Recipe for Healthy Places presents six community-based planning strategies to support healthy eating. In addition to changing the context in which people acquire and eat food, the plan’s strategies seek to foster business entrepreneurism, job growth, gardening, and other spin-off benefits that provide for a healthier city.

Calumet Area Land Use Plan

Adopted in 2002, the Calumet Area Land Use Plan is intended to create a landscape on the Far South Side where industry and open space harmoniously coexist.

Calumet Design Guidelines

Adopted in 2004, the Calumet Design Guidelines depart from the city's traditional landscape ordinance by establishing unique landscape standards that help economic development projects blend with the rare wetland features on Chicago’s Far South Side.

 

Open Space and Sustainability Plans Map

Calumet Open Space Reserve

Adopted in 2005, the Calumet Open Space Reserve Plan is a guide to the protection of 3,900 acres of natural habitat in the Calumet area.

Chicago Nature and Wildlife Plan & Update

First adopted in 2006 and updated in 2011, the Chicago Nature and Wildlife Plan was produced by the Mayor's Nature and Wildlife Advisory Committee to continue Chicago's commitment to expand and improve our important urban natural areas.

Chicago River Corridor Design Guidelines

First adopted in 2005 and updated in 2019, the Chicago River Corridor Design Guidelines outline the requirements for development in and adjacent to the setback area along the Chicago River and its branches within the city limits.

Chicago River Corridor Development Plan

Adopted in 1998, the Chicago River Corridor Development Plan sets forth a shared vision for the river and outlines specific recommendations for public and private land and presents strategies for preserving and enhancing the river's natural areas.

Chicago Riverwalk Main Branch Framework Plan

Adopted in 2009, the Chicago Riverwalk Main Branch Framework Plan establishes guidelines for the construction of a continuous walkway from Lake Michigan to Lake Street along the water’s edge, ramp and elevator improvements to establish universal access between street and river levels, loading and storage spaces to support river business operations, and landscape and hardscape improvements to attract people, plants and animals to the river corridor.

Chicago Sustainable Industries (CSI)

Adpoted in 2013, CSI is the result of a three-year collaboration by industry leaders and local government agencies on a comprehensive strategy to reinforce and expand Chicago’s manufacturing base.

CitySpace Plan

Adopted in 1998, the Cityspace Plan presents the key findings and recommendations of a comprehensive five-year effort for creating and preserving open space in Chicago.

Eat Local Live Healthy

Adopted in 2007, the Eat Local Live Healthy plan is a strategy to coordinate aspects of the local and regional food industry in ways that enhance public health and create food-related business opportunities.

Green Infrastructure for Stormwater

As part of the Chicago Sustainable Industries Initiative, stormwater conditions in Chicago's industrial corridors were studied in 2013. The primary findings of the study were that stormwater challenges exist throughout the corridors and that corridor-wide actions will have greater benefit than individual properties acting alone.

Logan Square Open Space Plan

Adopted in 2004, the Logan Square Open Space Plan provides a blueprint for increasing the amount and improving the quality of open space in the Logan Square community on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Throop Street Master Plan

Using a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, DPD completed a concept plan in 2019 for a new river edge natrual area and overlook at Throop Street, located within the Pilsen community area. The proposal was first identified in the Pilsen and Little Village Action Plan.