On June 26, 2012, the City of Blue Island adopted its Comprehensive Plan, which is the product of a community planning process that began in June 2011.
The City of Blue Island, a culturally rich community in south Cook County, is poised for citywide revitalization. Located on the Calumet River just southwest of Chicago, Blue Island has historically been a transportation hub in the region, featuring diverse neighborhoods and a traditional central business district that are sources of community pride. Building upon priorities set in the City's previously adopted plans, CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program worked with Blue Island to create a comprehensive plan that guides future growth and focuses on implementation.
Several previous planning efforts from the past ten years – such as those led by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) – have already enhanced Blue Island's natural, industrial, and commercial assets. Then starting in June 2011, Blue Island worked with CMAP planners to build on those earlier efforts and expand their geographic scope by creating a citywide comprehensive plan. The comprehensive planning process explored topics such as future land use; transportation improvements; parks improvements; community facilities; and arts and culture. Tying the city's plan to priorities established in the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan, the new plan for Blue Island will guide its future growth and drive economic prosperity.
