Fourteen acres of wooded land along the north branch of the Little Calumet River in West Pullman will be donated to the City and transferred to the Chicago Park District under a plan approved today by City Council.

Through an agreement with its current owner, ArcelorMittal steel company, the property known as Mittal Woods will be preserved as habitat for migrating and breeding birds and other wildlife common to the area. The land, which includes a variety of wetlands, is adjacent to the Major Taylor Bike Trail located near 128th Streer and South Stewart Avenue.

“This project will preserve open space in West Pullman while supporting the area’s ongoing renaissance,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Thanks to ArcelorMittal for donating this land and I look forward to getting started with preserving it for generations to come.”

The project continues an ongoing renaissance of the Pullman and West Pullman communities. Last month, Mayor Emanuel joined Whole Foods Market to open the company’s new 140,000 square foot distribution center in the Pullman neighborhood. The new center is among more than $225 million in public and private projects moving forward in Pullman, including: the community's 2015 designation as a National Monument by the U.S. Park Service for its historic affiliation with industry, land use planning and workers’ rights; the 2015 construction of Method Products’ first U.S. factory and Gotham Green’s rooftop greenhouse; the 2014 construction of the $135 million Pullman Park retail development.

Other recent public-private projects in West Pullman include the $52.5 million Kroc Community Center on 119th Street, the $11.1 million Maple Park Market retail space on 115th Street, and the $19.1 million Hancock House senior housing project on Emerald Avenue. Additionally, the Small Business Improvement Fund has granted more than $175,000 of TIF funds toward three neighborhood commercial projects over the last two years.

The acquisition and transfer was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission in November of last year.

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