The 606 Ambassadors: More eyes on the Trail

Dressed in The 606 logoed T-shirt and cap and armed with a walkie talkie, 16 youths, hired as Ambassadors by the Youth Service Project (YSP), 3944 W North Ave #2, in partnership with the Trust for Public Lands (TPL), are walking in shifts, back and forth, on the Bloomingdale Trail. 

Two pairs of Ambassadors in four-hour shifts, since August 15, are educating visitors and answering questions, promoting trail etiquette and making observations about the Trail's usage and conditions. Those observations are reported to The 606 construction team. 

These 606 Ambassadors will be out on the trail from 1 to 9 p.m. seven days a week through Labor Day Weekend. After Labor Day and through October 31, they will be out on the trail from 5 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 1 to 9 p.m. on weekends.

"I was surprised when people talked back to me," said Ambassador Michael Hendricks from West Humboldt Park. He explained, "I'm a social person so I wave and speak when I pass people on the street. But a lot of people just look, like I'm crazy. 

"Here, people actually want us. Some thank us and say they feel better, safer because we're here. A lot of people already know the Trail but others are not even from Chicago. There are regulars who smile and nod or say 'Hi.' 

"One guy asked me where Sox Stadium was! I told him, 'You are a long way from there! You have to go way south', " he explained laughing. 

"I love this job, I get to be outside and meet all kinds of personalities. At night it is so beautiful, and you are right in the middle of the City!. 

"A lot of people I know don't know about this place so I have been telling them. Some have told me that they have come here and think it is really cool." 

Hendricks' ability to interact with passersby was in full engagement when he spoke with Jonathan Erlich from West Rogers Park and another visitor. Erlich said that he was thoroughly enjoying a chance to walk the Trail and ask Hendricks a couple of questions.

"Mike has really been helpful," said YSP Work Force Coordinator Phoenix Forbes. "He has taken extra shifts and helped with staff. We have had some difficulties in getting workers." 

"On our first day of orientation, we took everyone out on the trail and walked it end to end, telling them about it," explained TPL’s Caroline O’Boyle. "To some, in theory that sounded like a good job, but in reality that was not for them." 

"Ambassador training began with basic trail etiquette like stay to the right, keep your dog on a leash. We asked them to report things like a broken tree limb or a garbage can that is overflowing or unauthorized signs," said Forbes. "They have walkie talkies that they can use for emergencies or want to report something that has to go up the work chain more quickly than going in their reports. They are keeping eyes on the Trail." 

O'Boyle explained that they also met with officers from the Chicago Police Department's 14th District. "We all made it clear that the Ambassadors are not doing their job but enhancing the experience of Trail visitors." 

While more people use the Trail on the weekends, there appears to be an ongoing stream of people walking, biking, skating and greeting friends along the way all the time. 

Many ideas and plans, since 2002, were set forth about what the re-purposed railroad bed along Bloomingdale was going to bring to multiple neighborhoods on Chicago's near northwest side. In those early stages, probably few participants considered that The 606 and the Bloomingdale Trail would inspire young people to engage people of all ages in conversation about the new space. 

Since its opening on June 6, the 2.7 mile stretch has been walked, if not the full distance then in part by thousands of people. Work continues. More plantings are being added regularly, bike racks are installed as well as benches.

You do not see many people sitting for long periods of time. Everyone seems to be on the move, smiling. The system of parks along the way from Walsh Park on the east to the YMCA on the west have seen additional traffic from travelers along the Trail. 

Like all Chicago Parks, The 606 system closes at 11 p.m. If you have not had The 606 experience as yet, this writer strongly recommends that you take the time to have a mini vacation from your regular street level experience.

If you see one of the Ambassadors, stop and have a conversation, or at least smile and say, "Hi!"