McKinley Park Neighborhood Plan

People familiar with McKinley Park know that it is a special, unique neighborhood. But for the many other people who pass through the neighborhood along Archer Avenue, there are no visual signifiers that clearly indicate they are entering the McKinley Park community. By placing iconic markers, public art, and wayfinding signage at key areas in the neighborhood, the community would provide attractive, useful signifiers to let people know they have arrived in a place they will want to remember.

This recommendation aligns closely with the proposed placemaking strategies in prior sections (sections 5.2c, 5.2f, and 5.3c). A coordinated system for attractive gateway entrances and wayfinding signage, together with innovative placemaking efforts — parklets, pop-up markets, and community events — will not only bring a sense of place to McKinley Park, it will also help improve the safety of the streets and public spaces.

Prioritize gateway entrances along prominent corridors

Gateways are especially important, as they provide a first impression for visitors, whether they are entering the neighborhood by car, bike, or foot. Highlighting neighborhood entrances will emphasize the identity of McKinley Park and create a sense of community. If done in coordination with local artist groups, gateways can incorporate art into road treatments.

Archer Avenue functions as a gateway of sorts, since people arriving by public transit arrive first in the neighborhood via the Ashland and the 35th/Archer CTA Orange Line stations. Other gateway features include the Western Boulevard, the neighborhood’s namesake park (McKinley Park), and the river crossing at 35th Street. These sites should be prioritized as key areas for attractive visual signifiers to inform residents they are entering McKinley Park. Some gateway entrances are viaduct underpasses, but these will need to be evaluated for appropriate lighting and cleanliness, as well as aesthetics as discussed in strategy 5.2f. Potential gateway sites include the viaduct at Damen north of Archer, at Leavitt north of Archer, and at Pershing and Western. These gateways will serve as bookends to the neighborhood’s commercial corridors, providing a sense of arrival for residents as well as visitors.

Neighborhoods in Chicago and elsewhere have used archways as effective ways to distinguish themselves visually, such as the Little Village arch, the Lincoln Square entrance arch, and the Puerto Rican flag archways in Humboldt Park. However, a gateway feature does not need to arch over the road to achieve a similar welcoming effect. Murals, pedestal signs, and other markers can do so as well. In addition, signs, banners, and public art can incorporate the visual themes of the gateways in other parts of the neighborhood to show visitors that businesses and cultural opportunities can be found throughout McKinley Park.

Coordinate informative and attractive wayfinding signage for all modes

A clear wayfinding system placed at popular destinations, cultural landmarks, parking lots, transit, and schools can increase walking and allow for easy transition between modes. Wayfinding and pedestrian signage helps to improve the overage appearance of the streetscape, while adding to the safety of all visitors. Possible elements of such a system include the number of minutes it would take to walk between destinations, clear parking information, historic and cultural information, and ecological information. All signage should have a streamlined and uniform look to help create a sense of place. Combined, these elements will promote the character and beauty of the street, corridor, and neighborhood.

Signs should be strategically placed in high-traffic areas throughout McKinley Park so that they are visible to residents and visitors. Signage at the 35th/Archer CTA Station, where many visitors enter the neighborhood, would be a strategic way to welcome and orient people. Other potential areas include the intersections of Archer and Western, Archer and Damen, 35th and Ashland, and at the commercial plaza at Archer and Ashland. As the CMD becomes modernized with diverse new uses, MPDC should consider adding a sign at Pershing and Damen to inform residents and visitors about the CMD’s historic significance and its current tenants.

Similarly, as efforts to restore the South Branch of the Chicago River proceed, MPDC should prioritize the installation of educational and wayfinding signage as an opportunity to engage residents and visitors to learn about the river’s natural habitat, and draw visitors from the river into the neighborhood to shop and eat.

MPDC should work through its new beautification committee to create neighborhood-specific signs that highlight popular destinations; mark pedestrian and bike routes; pinpoint bus, rail, and Divvy stations; and tell people where the preferred and underutilized parking areas are in the community.