Chicago Green Space Ideas Competition Winners Announced
The city has unveiled two winning urban landscaping proposals aimed at creating a more resilient and connected local environment.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Landscaping
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World Business Chicago has selected The Morton Arboretum and MKSK as the winners of its Horizon Lines competition. The two firms were chosen from nearly 200 submissions to provide new strategies for building a greener, more connected city.
Why it matters
These winning proposals focus on long-term sustainability for local neighborhoods, specifically addressing environmental connectivity and stormwater management as the city prepares for future climate shifts. The projects aim to transform Chicago's landscape to better support both residents and the local ecosystem.
The competition drew nearly 200 entries before selecting The Morton Arboretum, which currently operates in 89 local communities, and the design firm MKSK. These proposals respond to the need for managing the city's 28-mile historic boulevard system.
The players
World Business Chicago
An economic development organization that leads the city in soliciting public infrastructure and urban planning ideas.
The Morton Arboretum
A Lisle-based scientific and educational organization dedicated to trees and landscape stewardship across 89 local communities.
MKSK
A design firm specializing in urban planning and landscape architecture that developed the Wonderways! proposal.
The details
The Green City Rising proposal by The Morton Arboretum outlines a vision for an interconnected network of green spaces that aims to make every neighborhood lush by 2050. Meanwhile, the Wonderways! project by MKSK focuses on infrastructure improvements to mitigate stormwater runoff while creating new communal gathering spaces. Both plans were developed in response to regional projections suggesting the area could serve as a climate haven by 2080.
Timeline
The Green City Rising goal for lush neighborhoods is set for 2050.
Chicago is projected to reach climate haven status by 2080.
The Chicago Cultural Center exhibition concludes on October 11, 2026.
The Home Front
These proposals reflect a growing municipal focus on updating the city's 28-mile historic boulevard system to meet modern environmental standards. By prioritizing interconnected green spaces, the initiatives represent a departure from previous purely aesthetic landscaping models.
You can visit the free public exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center to view the winning design proposals firsthand. Reviewing these plans can help you understand how your local community may incorporate new green spaces or stormwater solutions in the coming decades.
The takeaway
The Horizon Lines competition highlights a major city-wide shift toward climate-resilient urban design. Homeowners should track upcoming neighborhood landscaping developments and explore how these planned green networks might impact local drainage and property value.
Further reading
Residents interested in local environmental planning can learn more at the Landscaping section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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