The Chicago Lakefront: Protected, Yet Precarious
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Provided by: Openlands|Published on: May 1, 2025
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This report depicts the development of the Chicago lakefront throughout history as well as the ways the legal system has protected the original values to remain "forever open, clear, and free."
- Students will learn about the original legal protections put in place by learning about The Public Trust Doctrine and The Lakefront Protection Ordinance.
- Shortcomings of the current policies and protections in place are analyzed, and solutions are provided throughout this report.
Subjects: Civics, History
Authors: Openlands
Region: Chicagoland IL
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource does an excellent job of taking the reader through the process of developing the Chicago lakefront through both a historical and legal lens.
- There are a plethora of photographs, maps, drawings, timelines, and miscellaneous pictorial references throughout this report, making it easier to compartmentalize and review all of the information presented.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the role that urban development plays in climate change.
- An understanding of the geographical layout of the Chicago lakefront is necessary prior to reading this report.
- Knowledge of the history of the Chicago lakefront inhabitation and development is essential preceding this resource.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To spark interest, have a discussion with students about the aesthetics of the Chicago lakefront to emphasize the vast amount of openness in such a crowded and bustling city.
- Devise an outline that helps the students visualize the timeline of the development of the lakefront.
- To ensure a more concrete understanding of climate justice prior to this report, this lesson can be used.
- Due to the length of this report, students could each be assigned different sections to annotate and report back to the class in a whole class discussion.
- After reading this report, students could be assigned one of the important legal cases mentioned to research and report back to the class.
- To emphasize this report's connections to Indigenous people and climate justice, this video could be utilized in reflection or extension of this resource.
This resource highlights the Chicago lakefront with a focus on its history of development and legal protections. The text is clear and well-sourced, with an extensive list of endnotes. While largely focused on history and public access, the report does continually address environmental health and sustainability as important reasons for lakefront protection. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
