CHICAGO, IL. – (April 8,2025) The Chicago lakefront is at a critical crossroads– with multiple billion-dollar developments being considered along the shore and federal environmental protections in decline. Openlands – one of the oldest metropolitan conservation organizations of the country – has released a timely report The Chicago Lakefront: Protected, Yet Precarious urging the City of Chicago to strengthen legal safeguards to protect its most valuable asset: the lakefront.
The lakefront: Chicago’s greatest civic asset
The lakefront is an economic powerhouse – drawing talent, capital, and commerce to Chicago’s shores. With the longest contiguous access to a waterfront of any city in the US, the Chicago Park District’s roughly 3,400 acres of lakefront parks provide essential spaces for residents to recreate, commune, and relax. As part of the Mississippi Flyway, the city’s shores are critical for millions of migrating birds each year.
“The Chicago lakefront is more than just a scenic view—it’s a one-of-a-kind urban treasure that defines our city. Yet, its protections have critical gaps that leave it vulnerable. We urge all Chicagoans, along with city leaders and policymakers, to get involved, understand how the lakefront is protected today, and take action to strengthen those safeguards,” said Michael S. Davidson, President & CEO, Openlands.
The new report calls for immediate action to bring lakefront protection, planning, and community engagement to the forefront of conversations – empowering Chicagoans to understand the major legal safeguards that protect the lakefront now and for generations to come.
Stronger protections for the lakefront
The report includes a comprehensive review of the laws that govern most of the Chicago lakefront—particularly the public trust doctrine and the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance (LPO). The LPO, a municipal ordinance, was created to protect the public’s lakefront from intrusive development. It remains the most powerful tool for meaningful reform.
In its analysis, Openlands found that the subjective decision-making process in the LPO led to gaps in planning, environmental protection, and public transparency. Openlands recommends strengthening the LPO and improving how it is implemented by:
- Requiring periodic updates to The Lakefront Plan of Chicago and the Lakefront Protection District.
- Establishing design and use standards within the District for more objective review process.
- Mandating environmental impact studies.
- Ensuring healthy public engagement and discourse by updating notification requirements, allowing more time for public debate.
- Establishing higher standards for large development.
A path forward for the lakefront
Openlands has long been a leader in safeguarding Chicago’s lakefront. Today, the need to build on that legacy is more urgent than ever. Strengthening protections against intrusive development is essential to preserving this iconic landscape. With robust public engagement and a strong environmental focus, Chicago’s greatest civic treasure can continue to thrive for generations.
Though this report centers on Chicago, its relevance extends far beyond. Openlands is proud to share these legal insights and policy recommendations as a valuable resource for cities across the U.S. working to protect their own waterfronts.
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About Openlands
Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. Openlands works across areas to advance nature-based solutions to climate change, improve the health and well-being of communities, and create a more verdant region for all. For more information, please visit www.openlands.org
