These photos were taken from the Montrose Avenue Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River.

California Park  is a Chicago Park District Park on the northwest side.    It extends from Addison Avenue to Irving Park Boulevard; California Avenue to the North Branch of the Chicago River.

This is one of the six parks created the River Park District in 1917.  These were established by the efforts of local residents.  They sought to constrain commercial development along both the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel.  They also sought to provide for recreation opportunities in this region.  These parks were ultimately consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934.

The park features playgrounds, baseball diamonds and indoor facility for ice skating and tennis.  This is known as the McFetridge Sports Center.

Unfortunately, due to the growth of trees and bushes, the North Branch of the Chicago River is barely visable from this park.

The following images were taken in early July, 2017.  

The  Cicero Avenue Traffic Bridge is a bascule type.   It crosses the Sanitary and Ship Canal between the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad and the south Central Avenue Traffic Bridges.  The bridge is open and has four lanes of traffic.

It was built in 1927.  At that time it was a pony truss bascule bridge with two truss lines.  At that time the bridge could be raised and there were bridge tender buildings and traffic gates.

In 1966, the bridge was rehabbed and widened.  A third pony truss line was added.  This was identical to the original two lines.    The steel used at this time was from U.S. steel.  It is not clear whether the lock tender buildings and traffic gates were removed at this time.  Currently the length of the largest span is 240 feet.  Total structure length is 304 feet.    Width is 74.1 feet.  It is a fixed bridge.

Bridge inspection as of 12/2010 is:

Deck Condition:  6 out of 9  Satisfactory;  Superstructure Condition:  6 out of 9 Satisfactory; Substructure Condition: 6 out of 9 Satisfactory.

 

Horner Park is one of the largest Chicago parks. It is 55 acres.  It is located on the northwest side between Irving Park Rd. and Montrose Avenue.  It borders the North Branch of the Chicago River.

During the 1900’s, this area developed rapidly. Residences and industry grew along the North Branch of the Chicago River. A large brick manufacturing plant was located here as well.  Excavations were made in the area to obtain clay for the plant.  Several years later, this plant was abandoned. It was used as a garbage dump site.   Local residents lobbied to have the zoning of this area changed from industrial.  They were successful in this endeavor.

In 1946, the city of Chicago began a 10 year plan to acquire this 55 acre site.  In 1949,  The brick kilns and other industrial structures were demolished.  The area was filled in and graded.

Additions included toboggan hill, tennis courts, playgrounds, field house, and handball courts.

Park was named after Henry Horner who was an Illinois governor from 1933-1940.

Due to the dense growth about the river, it can only be seen at the bridges at Montrose and Irving Park.

Ronan Park is a Chicago park on the north side.  It extends from Lawrence Ave to Argyle Street.   It extends along  the North Branch of the Chicago River. It is approximately 13 acres.  It was restored in 2002.

There is a Metropolitan Sanitary District building on the east bank  of the north branch Chicago river near Lawrence Avenue.  This has an art deco design.  It was built in 1929.   It is a sewage pumping station.  Currently it pumps raw sewage to the north side Water Reclamation Plant on Howard Street.

     The Park was named after Ensign George Ronan.  He died in the Fort Deaborn Massacre on August 15, 1812.  The federal soldiers were routed by the Potowatomi Indians.

The Penn Central Railroad Bridge is a bridge that spans the Little Calumet River.  It is located in Chicago 14 miles from the entrance of the Calumet Harbor.   It is between the Illinois Central Railroad Bridge and the Halsted Street traffic bridge.  It is currently operated as an industrial spur by the CSX Railroad.  It is a Warren through truss with deck plate approaches.  A cantilevered walk has been added to the structure.  Its largest span is 272 feet.  The total length is 337 feet.

This is a vertical lift truss traffic bridge over the Calumet River.   It is located between the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad Bridge and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge.  It is 6.8 miles from the entrance of the Calumet Harbor. It is unique because it is not a bascule bridge typical of Chicago traffic bridges.  It was constructed in 1936.   The superstructure contractor was Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company.  Substructure contractor was Mackie Thompson Tamm, Inc.

The main span length was 276 feet.  Structure length is 497 feet.  Roadway width is 44 feet.  There is on main span and 5 approach spans.

The previous first bridge at this site was built in 1905 by Jackson and Corbett.  It was a hand operated wooden bridge (pontoon type).  During the construction of the current bridge, a temporary bridge was put in place.  This was a multispan structure including a fixed pony struss span and a bobtail pony truss swing bridge.

Beginning in 2011, the city of Chicago began a multiyear rehabilitation project for this bridge and the adjacent abandoned railroad bridge.