The city broke ground Tuesday on the revitalization of an unused elevated rail line on Chicago's North Side.



The Bloomingdale Trail, a 2.7-mile trail that runs along Bloomingdale Avenue from Ridgeway Avenue to Ashland Avenue, opens next fall as a multi-use recreational trail and park system.



Renderings of the trail show a tree-lined running and biking path as well as seating and park space set above city streets.



Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office said the trail will be the centerpiece of The 606, a network of five ground-level parks connected to the trail, as well as an observatory, event plaza and art installations. The term "606" uses the prefix of Chicago's zip code.



"It will serve as an urban oasis and a community connector for the Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park neighborhoods," Emanuel's office said.



Emanuel announced last year the final $9 million was raised to construct the Bloomingdale Trail. The money reportedly came from donations from Boeing Co. and CNA, as well as the Chicago Park District. The project costs about $46 million.



Emanuel vowed to complete the trail during his mayoral campaign. Its transformation into part of The 606 will be built in phases.

