Walkability 1.0

The Walkability Assessment Initiative Kedzie-Homan (WA|K-H) is a project supported by the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) , the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC), and Elevated Chicago.

Sample of responses to the online survey question, “What makes walking enjoyable for you?”

WA|K-H team members in discussion during an analysis exercise to identify trends in survey data.

Commissioned by the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC), it assesses the half-mile-radius area around the Kedzie-Homan Blue Line station in North Lawndale to identify obstacles to walkability and propose fields where physical and perceptual improvements can be made.

The ultimate goal is to create incentives for people to walk and exercise by making the streets friendlier to all kinds of pedestrians.

We spoke with North Lawndale residents and visitors and analyzed intersections using the CLOCC Neighborhood Walkability & Accessibility Assessment Tool.

The Walkability Assessment Initiative Kedzie-Homan (WA|K-H) conducted last year in 2019 assessed the half-mile radius area around the Kedzie-Homan Blue Line station in North Lawndale to identify obstacles to walkability and propose areas where improvements can be made. The goal of this project is to create incentives for people to walk more and improve the communitys ownership of public spaces by making streets friendlier and safer to all kinds of pedestrians.

In the assessment, we found that a common area of concern is the interestion of Harrison St. and Homan Ave., right off the Homan exit of the Blue Line. This intersection poses concerns for pedestrian safety because of the poor conditions of the roads, lack of pedestrian crossing, the vacant lot on the northwest corner, and the environment of the Citgo gas station on the southeast corner.

As a community-led project, we work in collaboration with multiple North Lawndale community-based organizations to ensure that our design will consider the concerns and needs of ALL members of the community.