The work that makes restoration possible.
Before a single tie is replaced, the groundwork has to be right. Here's what's been studied, cleared, designed, and confirmed over the past several years, and what's left before the Rose Garden Loop can run again.
Progress at a Glance
Engineers, architects, volunteers, and historians have each done their part. Below is a plain look at what's been confirmed, what's been designed, and what still needs funding to move forward.
Secured
Important work has already been completed or secured, giving the railway a strong foundation for restoration.
Historic Status
In 2020, the railway was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, protecting it from being replaced by a walking path, as had once been proposed in Washington Park's 2018 master plan.
→ Read the Full HistoryGeotechnical Study
Shannon & Wilson, a geotechnical engineering firm, completed an updated study of the Rose Garden Loop in 2023, building on their original 2013 assessment. Their report supports replacing one of the line's nine retaining walls and repairing a small slide near the Washington Park Rose Garden Station. The rails themselves are in good condition.
→ Read the Report (PDF, opens in new tab)Track Clearing
Over the past several years, more than 100 volunteers have cleared vegetation from the Rose Garden Loop trackway. Volunteers have come from the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association, Troop 58, Golden Dragon Paddling Club, and the Rose Garden Loop Restoration Team.
→ Meet the TeamStill Needed
The next phase requires funding for design, equipment, and the work needed to move full restoration forward.
Washington Park Station
Plans have been developed by Lango Hansen Landscape Architects and Sundeleaf Mackenzie Architecture to make the Washington Park station ADA accessible. The station itself also needs cosmetic updating. Funding is still needed to move this work forward.
Rolling Stock
The trains have been deemed safe to operate by railroad experts. Significant refurbishment will be needed over time, even for continued operation within the zoo. Funding will be needed for this equipment work as restoration progresses.
Phase 1 is ready to go when funding is.
The studies are done, the designs are drawn, and the community has shown up. What's left is the resource to act on it.