Shaping our collective future on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEIGHBORS
We work to organize, inform, and support neighbors in building the community we want to live in — physically, culturally, and economically.
Laying the foundation for community-driven development.
MPDC’s first major project was the construction of the McKinley Park Neighborhood Plan. With input from over 800 neighbors in three languages, the Neighborhood Plan outlines residents’ priorities for McKinley Park including preserving diversity, revitalizing commercial corridors, promoting equitable transportation, and expanding recreational opportunities.
Today, the Neighborhood Plan is our foundation for a McKinley Park shaped by its residents. Read more.
Building a main street that reflects our multicultural identity.
We engage neighbors in ongoing efforts to bring our Neighborhood Plan to life. In partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago, more than 350 neighbors helped plan to revitalize 35th Street, our main commercial corridor. Key desires include gathering spaces, walkability for everyday needs, and small businesses that reflect McKinley Park’s cultural diversity.
We’re bringing 35th Street to life, one storefront at a time. Read more.
Increasing green space and transportation options.
The South Branch Connectivity Project is our most ambitious effort to date, forged in collaboration with over 600 neighbors and community organizations across the Southwest Side. Our plan envisions a connected path along the South Branch of the Chicago River from Western Ave. to Ping Tom Park — providing walking and biking options separate from high traffic areas, improving access to the CTA Orange Line, and creating new green space.
By connecting the riverfront, we will open parts of the riverfront that have been closed to the public for over 100 years. Read more.
