“Elected officials and residents celebrated the pending completion of renovations to Drexel Boulevard at a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon.
“The $4 million project to bring concrete pathways, accessible crosswalk ramps, irrigation systems and plant life to the historic boulevard will be complete by spring. The final phase will bring improvements to the stretch from 47th Street to Hyde Park Boulevard. Renovations from Oakwood Boulevard to 47th Street began in 2018 and wrapped up earlier this year.
“Pathways along the final stretch will ‘hopefully’ be completed in a few weeks, and plantings of trees and flowers will occur in the spring, said Ald. Sophia King (4th).
“The renovations, ongoing since 2018, have used city funds cobbled together from various sources over the years, like tax increment financing and bond funds, a CDOT spokesperson said.
“King, who said she regularly runs along the boulevard, praised transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi for finding the funds to support the final phase. ‘This has been a community effort, something that we all have to be proud of,’ King said. ‘I couldn’t have dreamed it more perfectly, as I see all of you who are using the boulevard on your bikes, walking your dogs — it’s bringing so much vibrancy. I hope to get even more as we finish all of the sidewalks here.’” (Evans, 10/26/20)
