by Lindsay Banks
3/26/10

Regents Park, submitted to our pool by Flickr user reallyboring.

Do you have plans for tomorrow night?  Why not incorporate Earth Hour into your plans? Turn a late dinner in front of the TV into a romantic candle-lit evening! 

For one hour on Saturday, March 27th, beginning at 8:30 p.m., you can celebrate the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour with millions of people from around the world.  This is the third year since its inception in Sydney, Australia as part of a global "campaign to encourage businesses, communities, and individuals to take simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis." So turn off your television, unplug your computer (and shut it down), unplug your chargers, and turn off the lights. 

Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 27th from 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Last year, the Sears Tower, John Hancock, Navy Pier, and Wrigley field all dimmed their lights.  When I lived in a country with frequent power outages, my favorite electricity-free thing to do was to play a game of Clue by candlelight.  The hour will pass and you won't even realize it!  You could also take your camera out and get some good before and after shots of the skyline!

Submit photos of your Earth Hour experience to our Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool!

by Diana Torres
3/25/2010

Planning can be abstract, so the “My 2040” blog series aims to connect planning to real people throughout the region.  To learn more about this series or to participate, please read more about the program. 

Special thanks to Judith McBrien for taking the time to share her thoughts and ideas with CMAP staff.  Judith McBrien is director of The Archimedia Workshop.  For over 15 years she has written, directed, and produced programs about Chicago architecture for public television broadcast, as well as for a wide range of organizations concerned with the arts and environment, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the American Institute of Architects, the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, and the Urban Land Institute.  McBrien is also the author of the best-selling Pocket Guide to Chicago Architecture.  She can be contacted directly at (312) 212-1492 or Judith@thearchmediaworkshop.org.

Setting the Stage for GO TO 2040
Judith McBrien’s passion for Chicago’s architecture has increased public understanding of Daniel Burnham’s impact as a city planner.  In 2005, she began work on a documentary to explore Burnham’s life, and her timing was perfect.  Initial planning efforts were already underway with The Burnham Plan Centennial, which celebrated the bold plans and big dreams of the Plan of Chicago that helped shape this region over the past 100 years.  Four years later, McBrien and Mary Morrissette produced the feature film, Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City.  The film was shown at Millennium Park as part of the Burnham Centennial celebration and will also be broadcast nationally on PBS this summer.  The film serves as a great introductory tool to understanding the origins of urban planning through the life and accomplishments of Daniel Burnham and helps to set the stage for the GO TO 2040 plan.

Looking Forward
In many ways, McBrien feels that her ‘community’ is the Daniel Burnham legacy.  In this context, she shares one significant parallel between the Plan of Chicago and the current efforts of the CMAP’s GO TO 2040 plan:  Regionalism.  Regionalism was clearly on Burnham’s mind when he created his plan, as can be seen in the book’s illustrations.  McBrien also observes how CMAP has adopted the notion that working together—with municipalities, elected officials, organizations and through issue areas—is vital to ensure a prosperous future.  “CMAP inherited Burnham’s legacy, the way of thinking that we are not an island and that we have to work together,” McBrien says. 

Continuing Burnham’s Legacies
There are two areas of Burnham’s work that need to be continued by CMAP, according to McBrien.  First, Burnham’s goal to secure the lakefront and open spaces to be utilized by the public is also the “same as CMAP[‘s],” McBrien says.  In many ways, the GO TO 2040 plan encourages the preservation of open space and use of greenways, trails and waterways throughout the region for use by residents.  CMAP’s recently updated Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways and Trails Plan envisions a network of stream- and land-based green corridors and almost 2,700 miles of existing and multi-use trails throughout the seven-county region.   Second, Burnham’s emphasis on transportation networks is also a key aspect of GO TO 2040.  McBrien states, “as for regional transportation networks [in the Plan of Chicago], they knew a century ago that freight lines should be consolidated, bringing goods in and out of the city.  It’s still an issue today.”  McBrien is correct—freight congestion will be addressed in the GO TO 2040 plan. 

One Region
One of Burnham’s strengths was his understanding of connecting the City of Chicago to the greater region.  McBrien shares that transportation is important, “not only for manufacturing [needs] but also [for creating] interstates and connections.  [The planners of Burnham’s day] understood that outer rings and suburbs were important even though the plan was published in 1909 and there were not many cars.”  At CMAP, the region’s transportation system is an essential component of residents’ quality of life, and the GO TO 2040 plan will make recommendations for public transportation, automobiles and highways, and other modes, including walking and bicycling.

A Public Effort
In terms of differences between the plans, McBrien points out that unlike the Plan of Chicago, the GO TO 2040 plan is being created with more public involvement.  While the Plan of Chicago was written by a small group, CMAP incorporated public engagement efforts to increase the agency’s understanding of the region’s wants and needs for GO TO 2040.  (For more details about the CMAP’s public engagement efforts related to GO TO 2040, read this press release.) McBrien also identifies that a few issues like housing and human services were not covered in the Plan of Chicago, though they will be in GO TO 2040.  As CMAP forges into the next century of regional planning, McBrien sees how this agency is seizing the “opportunity to have great ideas from the planning professionals and grass-roots groups to reach out to all groups and communities to integrate into the plan.”

(Photos courtesy of Judith McBrien.) Read more about the "My 2040" series.

New resource:  Tax Savings Tool

The White House launched a new Recovery Act Tax Savings Tool, which will help individuals “better understand the range of tax credits provided” under the stimulus.  There are more than a dozen tax cuts available for working families under the Recovery Act.  The average income tax refund is up 10 percent from last year, largely due to tax credits included in the stimulus package, reports USA Today.

by Lauren Armendariz-Bast, FLIP student (Senior at Waubonsie Valley High School)
3/23/10

Bronzeville Community Tour, Economic Development Group (Photos by Lauren Armendariz-Bast).

"We are the future," "education is key," and "one person can make a difference," are all phrases instilled in youth since childhood. They are all just phrases until we learn how to apply these ideas to help develop our future. CMAP’s Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) is a program that has helped me and my fellow students integrate all of these ideas by learning about our region’s present conditions and how we can change the future. In some ways, FLIP also helps to close the gap between education and the work force because we gain experience in real-life strategizing and problem solving that we do not have the opportunity to experience in school.  

From meeting with a college professor to teach us about the Burnham Initiative to personally interviewing CEOs and other specialists from the region, I feel that we've hit the jackpot of high school student opportunities. We learn about urban planning on a whole new level. Before FLIP, I would walk past an empty lot and think nothing of it. Now, I ask myself questions such as “what are the economic benefits of this lot?," "why is it empty?" and "how could this lot benefit the area?" This program provokes us to observe, analyze and problem solve because we learn how planning works in the real world. 

About FLIP: The Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) leadership development program provides students with tools and information so they can contribute to a better future for our region. Participants in this new program learn more about the northeastern region and share their thoughts with other teens from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Participants also meet and interact with selected regional leaders who make key planning decisions in our communities. Applications will soon be accepted for the next cohort of students; visit the FLIP page today.

On March 19, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $372 million in prevention and wellness grants under the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative, which is funded through ARRA.  Grants were awarded to 44 communities to “support public health efforts to reduce obesity and smoking, increase physical activity, and improve nutrition,” according to this press release. 

The Cook County Department of Public Health and its partner, the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, were awarded $15.9 million to inform state and local decision makers about evidence- and practice-based pricing and access strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity outcomes.  The grant will also enable financial and technical resources for local governments and community-based organizations participating in a proposed Model Communities and Model Schools program, which CMAP helped to develop.  Over the next two years, CMAP will continue to help the county to engage local municipalities, schools, and community organizations in this effort.  The Cook County Department of Public Health plans to use the funding to promote policy changes in school, workplace, and community environments to support efforts to lead healthy, active lifestyles and fight obesity.  Programs will focus on suburban Cook County, reports NBC Chicago.

Also, the City of Chicago was awarded $11.6 million for the Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project, which will be overseen by the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.  See the full list of CPPW grantees by state.

Bridge,Grant Woods, Lake County Forest Preserves by Flickr user monica666.

by Lindsay Banks
3/22/10

Today is World Water Day, held annually on March 22nd to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.  

Today's photo pick was taken in Grant Woods of Lake County Forest Preserves - one of the largest forest preserves in Lake County.  Our region's wetlands serve an extremely important role in protecting our freshwater resources; they filter and clean our water, mitigate the effects of floods, and make up the habitat to a variety of plants and animals that cannot survive on dry land. More than half of the wetlands in the US have been lost to human activity and development.  Without this valuable ecosystem function, we would see increases in flooding and pollution levels in our lakes, rivers, and tributaries.  It's hard to believe that something so beautiful could be taken for granted!

In January, the Regional Water Supply Planning Group voted unanimously to approve CMAP's Regional Water Supply / Demand Plan, created to consider the future water supply needs of northeastern Illinois and to develop plans to sustainable manage our water supply. 

Our Monday Flickr Photos are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool.  Submit your photos today! 

DuPage County NSP slideshow

In the March 17, 2010 CMAP Economic Recovery Update, we profiled the DuPage Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) in our ARRA Implementation Spotlight.  The Community Development Commission of DuPage County received $5.2 million in NSP funds as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008.  The County's program has been so successful in its implementation that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has used them as an example of what a successful NSP looks like.  According to HUD figures announced at an NSP Problem Solving Clinic held in Chicago on February 4, the national average for obligation of NSP funds was 33 percent.  As of March 9, DuPage County had obligated approximately 86 percent of its NSP funds, according to administrator Carrol Roark.

We posted a  slideshow with some before and after shots of homes purchased, rehabbed, and resold or rented through the NSP.  To learn more about the program, read the full case study.

View the latest regional Economic Recovery Update, produced by CMAP in partnership with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC).  Be watching for it every other Wednesday, and click here to sign up for CMAP email updates.

by Anne Holub
3/15/2010

"Maple Sap Bucket, Coral Woods Conservation Area" by Flickr user phototravel1 from our pool.

It's great to remember that with the end of winter comes unique treats, like real maple syrup. Today's photo is a reminder that even though the temperatures are slowly creeping up the thermometer, there's no rushing the dripping of maple sap from these trees just south of Marengo, IL in the Coral Woods Conservation Area maintained by the McHenry County Conservation District. 

As you're getting outside and taking pictures of your region, feel free to add your photos to our Explore Northeastern Illinois Pool on Flickr. You just might have your photo featured here some Monday in the future.

The New Republic on the stimulus

Over the past month for the New Republic, Marc Muro of the Brookings Institute has written two stimulus-related blogs that may be of interest.  “No Respect:  The Stimulus’ Unfair Rodney Moment” and “Stimulus as Policy Lab” both highlight policy innovations that have resulted from ARRA, while describing concerns that these may not become lasting reforms unless the federal government integrates them into its non-stimulus programs.  For example, he notes that the FY2011 federal budget contains no continuations for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, or the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), each of which is widely considered among the leading stimulus success stories.

by Amy Talbot
3/11/10

Are your pipes leaking?  This is the week to check.

March 15-21, 2010, is officially , sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Every year minor household leaks contribute to more than a trillion gallons of wasted water!  That’s an average of 10,000 gallons a year per household on running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks -- enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.  Many of these leaks can be easily fixed and can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

So what can you do?

• Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves and showerheads.  In most cases, fixture replacement parts don’t require a major investment.
• Retrofit your home with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances, which can eliminate most common leaks.
• Join others from around the country and pledge to fix your leaks. 
• Check for other water savings tips at the website (http://www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak).
• Test your water sense with a fun online game.

CMAP will help the DuPage Water Commission to staff two events, featuring water conservation games like Water Quest and the Price is Right.  By attending, you can learn how to save water and money!  Prizes include leak detection tablets, shower timers, rain gauges, and more. 

March 13 at the Itasca Community Library, Community Room, 500 W. Irving Park Road, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

March 20 at the Westmont Water Department, 39 E. Burlington Avenue, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

New appointments to Recovery Independent Advisory Panel

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a Recovery Independent Advisory Panel was created to “make recommendations to the Recovery Accountability and transparency Board as requested on actions that the … Board could take to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse relating to covered funds,” according to the Board’s guidelines.  On March 5, 2010, the President announced his intent to make several new appointments to the panel.  Appointments include Edward Tufte, professor emeritus of political science, statistics, and computer science at Yale University, who is well known for his work on data visualization.  Other appointments include:

• Steven Koch, vice chairman and co-chairman of Credit Suisse’s Mergers and Acquisition Group;
• Chris Sale, who provides guidance on microfinance, housing finance, and small to medium enterprise lending programs at CHF International; and
• Malcolm K. Sparrow, professor of the practice of public management at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Read more about appointments to the panel in Business Week. 

by Anne Holub
3/8/10

Photo by Flickr user jwhite jwhite from our pool.

This fun photo from our Flickr pool highlights a few brave folks who participated in last weekend's Polar Plunge at North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan. The annual event, now in its tenth year, raises money for Special Olympics Chicago. Even with the small warm-up we had last week, I still give these folks lots of credit for splashing into that freezing water (note the guys in full wetsuits making sure everyone stays safe)! This, and other great photos of our region, can be found in our Explore Northeastern Illinois Pool on Flickr.

CREATE in the news

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) will soon benefit from $233 million in federal stimulus funds.  Paul Merrion of Crain's Chicago Business looks at how the freight project is moving forward in light of recent events, including the stimulus funding, the State of Illinois budget problems, and the Canadian National railway's purchase last year of the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern railway.

In January, CREATE had announced a $133 million grant funded by ARRA to build a rail-rail flyover near 63rd and State in Chicago, which will eliminate conflict between 78 Metra Rock Island trains and approximately 60 freight and Amtrak trains that intersect there daily. An additional $100 million was announced in February via the U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER program to support six CREATE projects across 13 Illinois communities, ranging from rail line and viaduct improvements to a highway-rail grade separation.

Illinois a finalist for “Race to the Top” education grants 

On March 4, 2010, it was announced that Illinois is one of the top 16 finalists for grants in the U.S. Department of Education’s “Race to the Top” program.  The $4.35 billion competitive grant program, funded through the stimulus, aims to drive education reform and improve student success.  No more than half of the total money available will be awarded in phase 1, and states who were not finalists can re-apply for phase 2.  The Illinois State Board of Education submitted the state’s application for $510 million on January 19.  You can read more about the state’s application in our February 3 Economic Recovery Update.

by Erin Aleman
3/4/10

Time and time again we've heard from residents and stakeholders that youth are key to the future of our region.  Last year The Burnham Plan Centennial successfully worked with partners and youth to educate everyone on a host of planning issues.  The Centennial's Kids Portal contains many wonderful resources for young people, from letters to Chicago's Mayor Daley on ideas for making the city better to the hands-on "Build it with Burnham" event in Kenosha. 

With your help, CMAP wants to continue this legacy of youth outreach.  At noon on Friday, March 12, 2010, CMAP will host the second of its bi-weekly collaborative brownbag sessions with our GO TO 2040 Partners.  This session will focus on youth initiatives, beginning with a little background on how CMAP started our Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program. We'd love to hear from partners who are working on youth programs and upcoming events to identify opportunities to collaborate on educating and inspiring students the GO TO 2040 moves toward implementation.  Whether that means providing expert speakers, supporting each other with event promotion, or something new, CMAP wants to hear from you.  

This brownbag session will be held at noon on Friday, March 12, 2010 at CMAP offices located in the Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800.  To learn more about upcoming brownbags or to become a GO TO 2040 Partner, please visit www.goto2040.org/partnership.aspx. To sign up for a session, please contact Joey-Lin Silberhorn, 312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov.

View the latest regional Economic Recovery Update, produced by CMAP in partnership with the Regional ARRA Coordinating Council (RACC).  Be watching for it every other Wednesday, and click here to sign up for CMAP email updates.

by Lindsay Banks
3/01/10

Today's Flickr photo "Casting Shadows " is a beautiful, snowy coastline shot from Monika Thorpe .  Wouldn't it be nice if we had more blue skies like this?  It would sure help us get through the winter. 

Our Monday Flickr Photos are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool.  Submit your photos! 

by Anne Holub

2/25/10

Beautiful City. (Photo by John W. Sisson, Jr.)

Thanks to a generous offer from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, we have two pairs of tickets to give away for the upcoming run of the play "Beautiful City" at the DCA Theatre.

The play was written by George F. Walker, and will be directed by Rob Chambers and presented by Theatre Mir. From the DCA Theatre: "'This is the future' begins this darkly comic fable about urban developers, criminals, law enforcement, and even a witch, all fighting for the soul and vision of a city. Set in an urban landscape ripe for redevelopment, the parable blends off-kilter characters, fast-paced storytelling, and stinging social satire in a tale of greed, corruption, and civic responsibility. Theatre Mir's production marks the Chicago professional premiere of this work by George F. Walker, one of Canada’s most prolific and celebrated playwrights." The play opens on March 4 and runs every Thursday-Sunday through April 3, 2010. The performances will take place in the DCA Storefront Theatre at 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL.

To win a pair of tickets to a "Beautiful City" performance of your choice, just email your answers to these five questions along with your name and daytime phone number to Anne Holub, at aholub@cmap.illinois.gov. We'll pick two winners at random from the pool of correct complete quizes. Good luck!

QUIZ:

1. Who authored the 1909 Plan of Chicago?

2. What Asian city is known for its plan by the same author?

3. On March 4th, the day "Beautiful City" opens, Chicago will celebrate a birthday. How old will the city be?

4. In what year was the Sanitary and Ship Canal finished, reversing the direction of the Chicago River?

5. What GO TO 2040 document did the CMAP Board approve on January 13, 2010, as the last major interim product before the draft comprehensive regional plan is released for comment in June 2010?

by Anne Holub

2/25/10

As a part of the new “Let’s Move” campaign, the White House has announced an ambitious plan: to eliminate all food deserts in the United States in just seven years. What is a food desert? Well, it’s any area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Access to nutritious food can be hindered by many factors including income, proximity to grocery stores, and access to transportation.  Food deserts aren’t just located in urban areas but can also exist in rural communities as well, and more than 23 million Americans live in one. Chicago Magazine wrote about the issue last summer and estimated that the problem affects 600,000 Chicagoans (Time magazine also covered the issue last spring). CMAP’s Full Circle technical assistance program has examined the potential food deserts of Logan Square and East Humboldt Park. First Lady Michelle Obama spoke recently about the administration’s ambitious plan to eliminate such areas where nutritious food is difficult to obtain. It’s just one component of the “Let’s Move” campaign, which aims to improve nutrition, daily physical activity, and school lunches, as well as the problem with access to affordable, healthy food.