May 8, 2026

Alderman Reilly Reports

Peanut Park Dog Friendly Area Survey

Several residents, along with the Grant Park Advisory Council, have proposed installing a Dog Friendly Area (DFA) within Peanut Park, which is a section of Maggie Daley Park. Alderman Reilly is seeking direct feedback from ward constituents to help inform his position on this proposal.

A DFA, as defined by the Chicago Park District, is a designated, enclosed space where dogs are permitted to be off-leash under their owners’ supervision. These areas are designed to provide a safe, maintained environment for dogs to exercise and socialize while ensuring compatibility with surrounding park uses.

DFAs already exist nearby, including one at Lake Shore East Park and another at the southern end of Grant Park. Community input is an important part of determining whether a similar space would be appropriate for Peanut Park. Please note that this proposal has not been approved, and a funding source has not been identified.

For those who are unfamiliar with Peanut Park’s location, please refer to the map of Maggie Daley Park below, where Peanut Park is highlighted in red. We encourage you to share your thoughts by clicking here to complete the survey. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input.

Traffic Control Aides in River North

At the request of Alderman Reilly, the Office of Emergency Communications (OEMC) has agreed to place traffic control aides (TCAs) on Kingsbury Street at the corners of Kingsbury and Erie and Kingsbury and Grand. TCAs were initially placed on Kingsbury Street during the bridge closures on Chicago Avenue and Grand Avenue, and these aides proved to be helpful in navigating motorists and reducing traffic congestion, which is why Alderman Reilly has requested TCAs for the remainder of the Chicago Avenue Bridge construction project.

OEMC confirmed that TCAs will be in place on Kingsbury Street Tuesday - Friday from 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm to assist drivers. Alderman Reilly’s office will continue to collaborate with OEMC and the Chicago Department of Transportation to ensure the flow of traffic is maintained in River North during the nearby bridge closures.

Montgomery Ward Park Closed for Resurfacing

Alderman Reilly has authorized a portion of his Aldermanic Menu Funds to cover the cost of a complete resurfacing of Montgomery Ward Park’s soft surfaces in the playground area. This project will improve safety for children and eliminate trip-and-fall hazards for all of the park’s visitors. Construction began at Ward Park on Tuesday, May 5. The park will be closed for approximately 14 days to replace the soft playing surfaces. Signs have been posted informing residents of the closure, and contractors have been reminded of the current noise ordinance prohibiting the use of machinery between 8pm - 8am.

Alderman Reilly Attends Grand Opening of Secretary of State Business Services Center

This week, Alderman Reilly joined Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to commemorate the opening of the Secretary of State’s new Business Services Center at 160 North LaSalle Street. This new office will assist business owners and entrepreneurs by streamlining the business registration process and giving residents greater access to government services without an appointment. This new office will also include a fast-lane DMV kiosk for simple transactions such as driver’s license renewals and license plate sticker purchases. The new Business Services Center will transfer many crucial duties away from the current 69 West Washington Street location, which will reduce lines at both sites. To learn more, please click here.

The Alderman looks forward to the success of this new location and the advantages it will bring to Chicago’s small business community.

Upcoming Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is an appointed body responsible for reviewing proposals that require variation from the Zoning Code and Special Uses that require review to determine compatibility with adjacent properties. On Friday, May 15 at 9am, the ZBA will host a public meeting to review the following proposals in the 42nd Ward:

401 West Ontario Street

The applicant, Birken Lofts, LLC, is seeking approval to convert an existing 4 story commercial building into a residential building with 57 units. The existing orange rated building is largely vacant and underutilized. The applicant is seeking relief to reduce open space requirements, as the building’s historic features prevent modification of the exterior. Additional requests include allowing residential units on the first floor and reducing the parking requirement for a transit served location from 29 spaces to 0.

416-30 West Ohio Street

Parking In Chicago, LLC obtained a lease from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the surface parking lot located under the Kennedy Expressway feeder ramp. In order to properly license the parking lot for public use, a Special Use is required. The lot contains 72 parking spaces, and no physical changes are proposed.

Additional application materials are available on ZBA’s website here. These proposals do not require approval from Alderman Reilly or the City Council. However, the hearing will allow time for public comment. Click here for ZBA’s public comment process. A link to live stream the meeting will also be available on the ZBA’s website on the morning of May 15.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS.018District@chicagopolice.org)

Beat 1824 CAPS meeting will be on Thursday, May 14 at 5pm at 1201 N Clark St.
Beat 1831 CAPS meeting will be on Tuesday, May 19 at 5pm at 510 N LaSalle Dr.
Beat 1832 CAPS meeting will be on Tuesday, May 19 at 6pm at 510 N LaSalle Dr.
Beat 1833 CAPS meeting will be on Thursday, May 21 at 5pm at 303 E Superior St.
Beat 1834 CAPS meeting will be on Thursday, May 21 at 6pm at 303 E Superior St.

1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS.001District@chicagopolice.org)

Beat 121 CAPS meeting will be on Wednesday, May 13 at 5pm at 555 W Madison St.

To find your appropriate beat to attend your CAPS meeting, please click here.

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Girls on the Run 5K

On Saturday, May 9, Girls on the Run will hold a 5K race in Grant Park and along the lakefront. Set-up for the event will begin at 6am on Saturday morning. The race will begin at 8am at Arvey Field in Grant Park. Runners will head east under Lake Shore Drive and north on the lakefront trail until they reach DuSable Harbor, at which point they will return to Arvey Field using the same route. The event will end around noon. No road closures are anticipated for the race, but the lakefront trail may be temporarily restricted to limit crowds for the race's participants.

Public Assembly:

815 E Tower Ct

On Sunday, May 10, a public assembly will take place near 815 E Tower Ct. The group will assemble at 1pm and will disband around 3pm. The City estimates an attendance of approximately 50 people.

Helicopter Lift:

1 N Wacker

On Saturday, May 16, a crane lift will take place at 1 N Wacker Dr. The lift will occur between 9-11am on May 16. During the lift, the following closures will be in place:

Wacker Dr, from Washington St to Monroe St
Madison St, from Franklin St to the Madison St Bridge

Additionally, pedestrian access will be limited in the area bounded by Wacker Dr, Washington St, Franklin St, and Monroe St for the safety of all personnel and pedestrians.

State Street Closed for State / Lake CTA Station Reconstruction

As part of the ongoing State / Lake CTA Station Reconstruction project, a full closure has been implemented on State Street, from Wacker Drive to Randolph Street. State Street is scheduled to remain closed until May 22, 2026. Lake Street, between State Street and Wabash Avenue, will remain closed indefinitely. Please click here for the detour map. During this closure, emergency sewer repair work will also be completed on State Street.

Until the closure is lifted, northbound vehicles will be rerouted to Randolph Street, Dearborn Street, and Kinzie Street to re-access State Street. Southbound vehicles will be rerouted to Kinzie Street, Clark Street, and Washington Street to re-access State Street. Local business and driveway access on State Street will be maintained during the closures. All sidewalks and crosswalks are open for pedestrians. The underground CTA Red Line train station at Lake will remain open. As a result of the closure on State Street, the following CTA bus stops will be eliminated at State & Lake until Friday, May 22:

#2 - Hyde Park Express, #6 – Jackson Park Express, #10 – Museum Science & Industry, #29 – State, #36 – Broadway, #62 – Archer, #146 – Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express, #148 – Clarendon/Michigan Express.

Ohio / Ontario Feeder Ramp Update

The Illinois Department of Transportation continues its work on the Ohio and Ontario St Feeder Ramps near I-90. IDOT will continue several sessions of nighttime work during the first two weeks of May.

Utility Work:

LaSalle Drive - Peoples Gas

Utility work has begun on LaSalle Dr near Chicago Ave. As a result of the line repair work, one vehicular traffic lane and one sidewalk will be closed at a time. A full closure at LaSalle Dr & Chicago Ave will not be implemented, and traffic will continue to flow as normal. Peoples Gas will be on site until the second week of May 2026.

Grand Avenue - Bally's Casino

To prepare for the new permanent Bally's Casino, utility work will be completed on Grand Ave in River North. As a result of this construction, Grand Ave, between Union Ave and Kingsbury St, will be reduced to one lane in each direction. These closures will be in place until the second week of May 2026.

Canal St Reconstruction

The closures remain on the east half of Canal St, between Adams and Madison, and parking on Canal, between Adams and Madison, will be prohibited. Two lanes on the west side of Canal St will be maintained for northbound traffic. These closures will last until late 2026. Pedestrian traffic will be maintained on the west side of Canal St, and access to driveways and commercial loading zones will be maintained.

Lake Street Bascule Bridge Construction Update

Work continues on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge. The sidewalk on the southwest corner of the bridge will remain closed until summer 2026. The Lake Street Bascule Bridge is expected to re-open by spring 2028. For the detour map, click here.

Bridge Construction Updates

As reported in a past Reilly Report, construction continues on several downtown bridges, and Alderman Reilly has expressed his frustration with CDOT for a lack of coordination and planning. The State Street Bridge is now open, and the approximate completion date for the Chicago Avenue Bridge is January 2027, and the Lake Street Bridge will be completed by spring 2028.