Chicago gains a new open space today, located on an island on Lake Michigan just across from Soldier Field and Burnham Harbor.
"The 40-acre southern portion of Northerly Island, the former Meigs Field, has been transformed into a six-ecosystem nature park that will open [today]," according to a Chicago Tribune feature credited to Tribune Graphics.
The new park includes a five-acre pond that acts as an estuary for fish and amphibians as well as a stopping off point for migratory birds, a multi-purpose trail that makes a one-mile loop, rolling hills (by Chicago standards), over 150 kinds of native plants, and programming overseen by the Park District.
FULL STORY: Features of the new park at Northerly Island

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Detroit Transit Agency Requests $20M Budget Increase
The Detroit Department of Transportation wants to boost ridership by hiring more drivers, buying new buses, and enhancing station infrastructure.

California Bill Aims to Boost TOD
A bill proposed by Sen. Scott Wiener would exempt transit agencies from zoning rules near ‘high-quality’ transit stops and allow denser transit-oriented development.

Report: One-Fifth of Seattle Households Are Car-Free
According to one local writer, the city’s low rate of car ownership should encourage officials to support public transit and reduce parking minimums.
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