Logan Square’s Traffic Circle Redesign Debuts: ‘A Transformational Investment’

LOGAN SQUARE — Performances by Northwest Side Latin arts groups enlivened the heart of Logan Square Monday morning as officials and neighbors gathered to celebrate the completion of the area’s traffic redesign and new plazas.

After over a decade in the making and two years of construction, the $27 million project, which overhauled Logan Square’s infamous traffic circle, is now complete. It added an updated traffic pattern, two new plazas, almost an acre of park space, improved bike lanes, larger sidewalks and new lighting to the area near the Illinois Centennial Monument.

The project rerouted Milwaukee Avenue around the traffic circle, converting the former street into new public space near the monument. It also rerouted Kedzie Avenue north of Milwaukee Avenue at the Logan Square Blue Line Terminal through what is currently the bus turnaround, turning a portion of the former street into a public space known as La Placita.

The roads surrounding the traffic circle were also converted to two-way traffic, and more raised sidewalks, traffic signals and curb bump-outs were added to improve traffic flow and safety.

The redesign’s completion was celebrated by Logan Square community leaders, city officials including Mayor Brandon Johnson and at least a dozen neighbors and business owners, who gathered for a celebratory ribbon cutting event Monday.

The project is “a transformational investment in our neighborhoods that will benefit us today and the generations to come,” Ald. Anthony Quezada (35th) said.

“It has improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists while also increasing access to public transportation and supporting our local businesses,” said Quezada, who was involved with the planning stages of the project years ago as a 35th Ward staffer when his predecessor, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, was the alderman.

Ramirez-Rosa, now Chicago Park District CEO, was also present at Monday’s event, having spearheaded the traffic redesign project planning since 2017 through 2024, when it began.

“Not every neighborhood has room for a large new park, so when we have the chance to reclaim public land, to turn excess pavement into plazas, promenades, safer sidewalks, and places where people can gather, we have the responsibility to take it seriously,” Ramirez-Rosa said.

The project also harkens back to the history of Logan Square. In 1869, Chicago’s boulevard and park system was designed with the idea that public space, recreation and mobility should be woven into the city. But in more recent years, more of those spaces have been eaten up by cars and traffic, said Andy Schneider, president of Logan Square Preservation.

Beginning with the administration of Mayor Harold Washington in the 1980s, neighbors began to advocate for more green and pedestrian space in the community.

“Our Centennial Monument has pride of place, and the legacy of Jens Jensen, the great landscape architect, is visible in our beautiful cattail streetlights, which used to line our boulevard and are restored here,” Schneider said.

City and community leaders commended business owners and neighbors who have been part of the process since the beginning, with Johnson touting how the plazas and public space, including La Placita, can bring more people together and be an example for other city projects.

“This not only creates a safer Logan Square, but a more connected community, and we know that accessible public spaces and safer streets go hand in hand,” Johnson said.

The increased plaza space provides a larger footprint for popular local events including the Logan Square farmers market, which moved to the plaza last month, the Logan Square Arts Fest, which returns this weekend, and the Mercaditos Craft Fair, community leaders said.

“Over the last seven weeks, we have been able to execute what this community envisioned for this space [and] we’ve welcomed over 80,000 visitors” to the farmers market, said Nilda Esparza, market producer and president of the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce.

The benefits of the larger space have already been fruitful for some market vendors. Angel Robles, co-founder of Baskethouse, a bread vendor who has participated in the local farmers market for five years, said the new home has been phenomenal for the business.

“The first markets here were incredible. We sold out sooner than we have ever sold out before and we keep selling out. The line has been been pretty long,” Robles said. “It does feel a little bit more inviting, because it’s kind of like a V shape, so it’s kind of like somebody is hugging you.”

The project’s completion now leaves room for more construction to take place in the area.

Later this summer, construction will begin on the rehabilitation of the Logan Square Blue Line Station canopy, the first major renovation of the station since it opened in 1970. The Comfort Station at the square, which is temporarily closed with a small homeless encampment in front, is also set to have a big exterior and interior renovation this summer, reopening later this year with new leadership and new exhibits.