|
May 1, 2026
{View as Webpage}
| | Upcoming Special Events in the 42nd Ward | |
Polish Constitution Day Parade Saturday, May 2
The Polish Constitution Day Parade will return to Grant Park this Saturday, May 2. The parade steps off from Balbo Drive and Columbus Drive at 11:30am. Assembly of the floats will begin at 8am, and disassembly will be complete by 1:30pm. Floats will be staged on Columbus Drive, from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road and on Balbo Drive, from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive. The parade will march north on Columbus Drive to Monroe Street, where the parade will disband. Please anticipate road closures on the following streets from 8am - 2pm tomorrow, 5/2:
- Balbo Drive, from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive
- Columbus Drive, from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street
The City estimates an attendance of 10,000 people and over 100 floats and vehicles.
| |
St. Jude Memorial Police March Sunday, May 3
This Sunday, May 3, the St. Jude Memorial March will take place on Michigan Avenue. The annual march honors the CPD officers who have given their life protecting Chicago’s communities. Police officers and other participants will begin assembling on Michigan Avenue, from Wacker Drive to Superior Street, at 6:30am on Sunday morning. The march will step off at 8am and will travel north on Michigan Avenue to Chicago Avenue. On Chicago Avenue, marchers will proceed west to Clark Street, where they will disband around 10am. The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4am - 12pm on 5/3:
- Michigan Avenue, from Wacker Drive to Pearson Street
- Chicago Avenue, from Mies Van der Rohe Way to Clark Street
- Dearborn Street, from Huron St to Pearson Street
- State Street, from Huron Street to Pearson Street
- Wabash Ave, from Huron Street to Pearson Street
- Rush Street, from Huron Street to Pearson Street
- Superior Street, from Saint Clair Street to Rush Street
- Huron Street, from Saint Clair Street to Rush Street
- Erie Street, from Saint Clair Street to Rush Street
- Ontario Street, from Saint Clair Street to Rush Street
- Ohio Street, from Saint Clair Street to Rush Street
- Upper Illinois Street, Michigan Ave to Saint Clair Street
The City estimates an attendance of nearly 6,000 Chicagoans at this year’s march.
| | |
Girls on the Run 5K Saturday, May 8
Next weekend, Girls on the Run will hold a 5K race in Grant Park and along the lakefront. Set-up for the event will begin at 6am on Saturday, May 8. The race will begin at 8am at Arvey Field in Grant Park. Runners will head east under Lake Shore Drive and north on the lakefront trail until they reach DuSable Harbor, at which point they will return to Arvey Field using the same route. The event will end around noon. No road closures are anticipated for the race, but the lakefront trail may be temporarily restricted to limit crowds for the race's participants.
| | Clark Street Extended Outdoor Dining Returns Today | | |
Alderman Reilly is pleased to announce the return of the Clark Street Extended Outdoor Dining (EOD) program, running from May 1 through October 31, 2026. Restaurants along Clark Street, between Grand Avenue and Kinzie Street, will again be permitted to build dining platforms in the curb lanes, while keeping all traffic lanes open.
While Alderman Reilly continues to support the full street closure model used in previous years, this modified format—first introduced in 2024—proved effective in supporting local businesses while maintaining traffic flow. Concrete jersey barriers will be installed to close gaps between platforms, improving safety and reducing traffic congestion. CDOT will enforce the EOD regulations to ensure the program runs smoothly for pedestrians and businesses this season.
| | Upcoming Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting | |
The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is an appointed body responsible for reviewing proposals that require variation from the Zoning Code and Special Uses that require review to determine compatibility with adjacent properties. On Friday, May 15 at 9am, the ZBA will host a public meeting to review the following proposals in the 42nd Ward:
401 West Ontario Street
The applicant, Birken Lofts, LLC, is seeking approval to convert an existing 4 story commercial building into a residential building with 57 units. The existing orange rated building is largely vacant and underutilized. The applicant is seeking relief to reduce open space requirements, as the building’s historic features prevent modification of the exterior. Additional requests include allowing residential units on the first floor and reducing the parking requirement for a transit served location from 29 spaces to 0.
416-30 West Ohio Street
Parking In Chicago, LLC obtained a lease from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the surface parking lot located under the Kennedy Expressway feeder ramp. In order to properly license the parking lot for public use, a Special Use is required. The lot contains 72 parking spaces, and no physical changes are proposed.
Additional application materials are available on ZBA’s website here. These proposals do not require approval from Alderman Reilly or the City Council. However, the hearing will allow time for public comment. Click here for ZBA’s public comment process. A link to live stream the meeting will also be available on the ZBA’s website on the morning of May 15.
| | |
18th District: (312-742-5778 / [email protected])
- There are no CAPS meetings for this district in the month of May.
1st District: (312-745-4381 / [email protected])
- Beat 111 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 5pm at 100 S State St.
- Beat 121 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13 at 5pm at 555 W Madison St.
To find your appropriate beat to attend your CAPS meeting, please click here.
| | |
International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 3-9, is an education and awareness campaign celebrated worldwide!
Composting is a powerful way to reduce waste, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Did you know that through the City of Chicago’s Food Scrap Drop-Off program, you can get your household food scraps composted for free? This thriving program has over 8,800 households participating and has diverted 1,554,000 pounds of food scraps from landfills to composting since its inception in 2023. Thanks to a partnership with Chicago Public Libraries, the program has recently expanded to a total of 33 drop-off locations. Learn more and sign up today!
| | |
Street and Alley Resurfacing Continues
in the 42nd Ward
| | |
As reported in a previous Reilly Report, Alderman Reilly has authorized a portion of his Aldermanic Menu Funds to resurface several streets and alleys in the 42nd Ward. The majority of these projects have already begun, and the remaining ones will begin shortly:
- Alley bounded by Chicago Avenue, Superior Street, Orleans Street, Franklin Street
- Alley bounded by Delaware Place, Chestnut Street, Dearborn Street, and State Street
- Alley bounded by Erie Street, Ontario Street, Franklin Street, and Wells Street
- Alley bounded by Franklin Street, Wells Street, Ontario Street, and Ohio Street
- Alley bounded by Superior Street, Huron Street, Franklin Street, and Wells Street
- Harbor Drive, from Harbor Service Drive to Randolph Street
- Lower Michigan Avenue, from Grand Avenue to Lower North Water Street
- Lower Michigan Avenue, from Lower Wacker Drive and Lower Stetson Avenue
- Park Drive, from Illinois Street to North Water Street
- Randolph Street, from Beaubien Court to Columbus Drive
- Randolph Street, from Field Boulevard to Harbor Drive
- South Water Street, from Stetson Avenue to Columbus Drive
- Stetson Avenue, from Wacker Drive to Randolph Street
Residents should expect each project to take 2-4 weeks as CDOT grinds the existing asphalt and repaves a new top layer.
| |
42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects | |
Bridge Closure:
Randolph St Bridge
On Tuesday, May 5, the Randolph St Bridge will be closed from 9:30am - 2:30pm for testing ahead of the summer boating season. During the lift, vehicular traffic will be closed and vehicles will be rerouted. All normal traffic patterns are scheduled to resume at 2:30pm.
State Street Closed for State / Lake CTA Station Reconstruction
As part of the ongoing State / Lake CTA Station Reconstruction project, a full closure has been implemented on State Street, from Wacker Drive to Randolph Street. State Street is scheduled to remain closed until May 22, 2026. Lake Street, between State Street and Wabash Avenue, will remain closed indefinitely. Please click here for the detour map. During this closure, emergency sewer repair work will also be completed on State Street.
Until the closure is lifted, northbound vehicles will be rerouted to Randolph Street, Dearborn Street, and Kinzie Street to re-access State Street. Southbound vehicles will be rerouted to Kinzie Street, Clark Street, and Washington Street to re-access State Street. Local business and driveway access on State Street will be maintained during the closures, and at least one sidewalk will be open at all times for pedestrians. The underground CTA Red Line train station at Lake will remain open. As a result of the closure on State Street, the following CTA bus stops will be eliminated at State & Lake until Friday, May 22:
#2 - Hyde Park Express, #6 – Jackson Park Express, #10 – Museum Science & Industry, #29 – State, #36 – Broadway, #62 – Archer, #146 – Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express, #148 – Clarendon/Michigan Express.
Ohio / Ontario Feeder Ramp Update
The Illinois Department of Transportation continues its work on the Ohio and Ontario St Feeder Ramps near I-90. In the coming days, IDOT will begin 2-3 sessions of nighttime work during the first week of May.
Utility Work:
LaSalle Drive - Peoples Gas
Utility work has begun on LaSalle Dr near Chicago Ave. As a result of the line repair work, one vehicular traffic lane and one sidewalk will be closed at a time. A full closure at LaSalle Dr & Chicago Ave will not be implemented, and traffic will continue to flow as normal. Peoples Gas will be on site until the second week of May 2026.
Grand Avenue - Bally's Casino
To prepare for the new permanent Bally's Casino, utility work will be completed on Grand Ave in River North. As a result of this construction, Grand Ave, between Union Ave and Kingsbury St, will be reduced to one lane in each direction. These closures will be in place until the second week of May 2026.
Canal St Reconstruction
The closures remain on the east half of Canal St, between Adams and Madison, and parking on Canal, between Adams and Madison, will be prohibited. Two lanes on the west side of Canal St will be maintained for northbound traffic. These closures will last until late 2026. Pedestrian traffic will be maintained on the west side of Canal St, and access to driveways and commercial loading zones will be maintained.
Lake Street Bascule Bridge Construction Update
Work continues on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge. The sidewalk on the southwest corner of the bridge will remain closed until summer 2026. The Lake Street Bascule Bridge is expected to re-open by spring 2028. For the detour map, click here.
Bridge Construction Updates
As reported in a past Reilly Report, construction continues on several downtown bridges, and Alderman Reilly has expressed his frustration with CDOT for a lack of coordination and planning. The State Street Bridge is now open, and the approximate completion date for the Chicago Avenue Bridge is January 2027, and the Lake Street Bridge will be completed by spring 2028.
| | | | |
