Horner Park

AUTHORITY:

Section 206, Water Resources Development Act 1996, as amended (Continuing Authority Program)

DESCRIPTION:

Ecosystem restoration is a high priority budgetable mission for the Corps of Engineers. In partnership with the Chicago Park District, Horner Park has been another significant contribution to the USACE mission to restore and reconnect sustainable habitat along the Chicago River.

Horner Park lies along the North Branch of the Chicago River in the City of Chicago, Illinois. The restoration area is bound by Montrose Avenue to the North, the Chicago River to the East, Irving Park Road to the South, and extends westward into Horner Park, stopping short of the existing athletic fields. The project site is 14 acres, which includes approximately 2,600 feet of the riverbank. 

The goal of this completed project was to restore the natural features of the North Branch Chicago River at Horner Park and its riparian zone within the constraints of the current system. The objectives of this project included: 1) restoring stream hydraulics and morphology 2) restoring riparian zone habitat and vegetation 3) restoring oak savanna habitat 4) prevention and/or removal of invasive species.  Both the design effort and construction contract were funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions for more details. You can also download the Horner Park project presentation slides.

COSTS:

Total Project Cost:

  $ 5,500,000

Federal Cost:

  $ 3,500,000

Non-Federal Cost:

  $ 2,000,000

STATUS:

A five-year construction contract was awarded in September 2013, with construction completion in October 2018. With the completion of the construction contract, the Chicago Park District will now resume responsibility for management and upkeep of Horner Park.

Project Manager

Nicole Roach

Project Area

Click map to enlarge.

Documents