Tour of Austin

Details

Time: May 31, 2009 from 1pm to 5pm
Location: Columbus Park
Street: 500 S Central Ave.
City/Town: Chicago, IL
Website or Map: http://tinyurl.com/d9qaot
Phone: 773-255-6347
Event Type: bike, tour
Organized By: Lee Diamond
Latest Activity: May 31, 2009

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Description

Big Shoulders Realty is proud to partner with the Active Transportation Alliance in presenting a bicycle tour of the Austin Community Area. Big Shoulders Realty ‘s tours are narrated architectural and historical tours of Chicago’s neighborhoods free for all to attend. Our partnership with the Active Transportation Alliance is a community outreach program to reach out into the west side and south side to promote active recreation and transportation and to bring bicycling to all parts of Chicago.

Austin, Chicago Community Area #25 sits seven miles due west of the Loop. It is one of Chicago’s largest Community Areas and was founded in 1865 by Henry Austin. Originally located in the township of Cicero, it was voted out of the Township and became part of Chicago in 1899. For years, the rail lines served as a boon to Austin, and development and communities grew and prospered for years. Austin is site to some of the grandest mansions and most splendid architectural forms in all of Chicago, and to one of the grandest parks in the park system, Columbus Park, a fully-realized design of famed landscape architect Jens Jensen. Sadly Austin’s beautiful buildings today are often neighbored by empty lots, and dilapidated structures in many directions as the area has seen its fortunes decline as its population and money disappeared while its infrastructure and opportunities ever weakened. The prospect for urban renewal in many ways begins by rediscovering what we Chicagoans have lost by neglecting our neighborhoods. By remembering and seeing what we have lost, we can change a neighborhood’s fortunes, and regain our stature.

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Comment by Bill Watson on May 31, 2009 at 11:49am: Great ride Lee! Thank you!! The weather and the narrative were both outstanding. I really enjoyed it. Thanks again.

Comment by John on May 31, 2009 at 4:46am: I'll be coming down from Lincoln Square, taking Montrose/California/ Armitage/Kostner/Augusta/Laramie/Congress to get there. I should hit California and Armitage a little before noon if you want to connect there. Other route suggestions also welcome.

Comment by Noel Cunningham on May 31, 2009 at 3:09am: ug! i'm not going to be able to make it and i really had my hopes up for this ride. will it be happening again in the near future?

Comment by Ian on May 30, 2009 at 8:07pm: Looks like Lee has set up another great tour. anyone want to meet up and ride from Bucktown/WP??? about 7.5 mi. Let me know.

Comment by Lee Diamond on May 30, 2009 at 3:46pm: TRAIN STOP OPTIONS

Cheers! - lee

The Green line is just north of the park and stops right on Central at Lake. You would have about 1/4 mile to bike south on Central. The park is on your right before the expressway.

The Pink line has a stop at Cicero and there are a variety of busses you could take from there, the Cermak bus to get west or the cicero bus to get north, stopping anywhere above roosevelt, then heading west to the park.

The Blue line has a stop at Austin that is close to the southwest part of the park. You could get on the park trail and head around the park to the front of the fieldhouse (500 S Central). They also have a stop at Cicero, but methinks the Austin is better if you are doing the Blue.

On Metra, the BSNF has a stop at Cicero that gives you similar options to the Pink line from there.