Following the opening of the Ford Calumet Environmental Center and the pump tracks by Velosolutions, “Friends…” will work towards these major developments:
Big Marsh is an incredible resource, but is only 297-acres in over 2,000 acres of natural space in the Calumet region. “Friends…” looks to an amazing space which also serves as a regional hub. This bi-state vision of Chicago’s Southland and Northwest Indiana is advocated by a dynamic network of organizations, residents, and ecologistsand includes our friends in Calumet Collaborative, the Calumet Heritage Project, and more. Ultimately, by celebrating the natural beauty of the region, a Calumet region that prioritizes eco-recreation will:
Trail connections are not ideal, but Big Marsh is not an island. By working closely with Active Transportation Alliance, though the Southside Trailblazers network, as well as the Chicago Department of Transportation and Openlands, “Friends…” advocates for new trails, as well as connections to those which already exist.
With the addition of the “Calumet Connector” trail across the north end of Lake Calumet and an east side connection to Torrence, Big Marsh will eventually connect to the Burnham Greenway, Major Taylor Trail, and the Cal-Sag Trail. These connections will invite cyclists to explore everywhere from the Indiana Dunes National Park to the Pullman National Monument and beyond.
