Forty interpretive wayfinding signs have been installed encouraging residents and visitors to explore local businesses and cultural highlights.
Choose Chicago announced the new community-focused Neighborhood Wayfinding Initiative in collaboration with the Chicago Mayor’s Office, designed to encourage residents and visitors alike to explore, learn from, and spend time in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
“Chicago is a city built to be explored,” said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “This new collaborative wayfinding program creates a more intuitive experience and offers seamless, accessible information that encourages exploration of our neighborhoods and drives meaningful economic impact throughout the city.”
Through this initiative, 40 permanent interpretive wayfinding signs are being installed on public sidewalks and rights-of-way across six neighborhoods—Uptown, Little Village, Hyde Park, Bronzeville, South Shore, and Chatham. Strategically placed near CTA stations, major commercial corridors, parks, and cultural institutions, the signs are intended to drive foot traffic, celebrate neighborhood identity, and make it easier for visitors and residents to navigate and discover what each community has to offer. For example, signs in several South Side communities will help direct future visitors to the Obama Presidential Center toward commercial corridors in surrounding communities.
Partners:
The project was developed through close collaboration with local neighborhood chambers of commerce and community development organizations, ensuring that sign locations and content authentically reflect each neighborhood’s history, culture, and priorities. Participating partners include:
- Uptown (7 signs): Uptown Chamber of Commerce
- Little Village (8 signs): Little Village Chamber of Commerce
- Hyde Park (9 signs): South East Chicago Commission
- Bronzeville (7 signs): Quad Communities Development Corporation
- South Shore (4 signs): South Shore Chamber of Commerce
- Chatham (5 signs): Greater Chatham Initiative
“The Hyde Park community is a thriving destination that uplifts culture, history, and diverse populations. We offer a unique balance of residential personality, global thought leadership, small business community and major enterprise on Chicago’s South Side,” said Diane Burnham, Executive Director of the South East Chicago Commission.“These new wayfinding signs invite visitors and neighbors guidance and discovery as they explore our business district. This initiative stands out as an open invitation to learn more, stay longer, and come back again to enjoy a new experience every time.”
The Neighborhood Wayfinding initiative builds on Choose Chicago’s broader Neighborhood Strategy efforts to elevate Chicago’s 77 community areas as must-visit destinations, while supporting inclusive tourism growth, local businesses, and cultural institutions citywide.
Hyde Park’s Wayfinding Locations:
| Address | Nearby Intersection |
| 1518 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 | Northwest corner (E 53rd St & S Harper Ct) |
| 1530 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 | Northwest corner (S Lake Park Ave & E 53rd St) |
| 1700 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 | Northeast corner (S Hyde Park Blvd & E 53rd St) |
| 1554 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 | Northwest corner (S Lake Park Ave & E 55th St) |
| 5700 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 | Southwest corner (E 57th St & S Harper Ave) |
| 5700 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 | Southwest corner (S Stony Island Ave & E 57th St) |
| 5100 S Lake Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60615 | Southwest corner (E Hyde Park Blvd & S Lake Park Ave) |
| 5496 S Hyde Park Blvd, Chicago, IL 60615 | Northwest corner (S Hyde Park Blvd & E 55th St) |
| 1208 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 | Northeast corner (E 53rd St & S Woodlawn Ave) |
Hyde Park’s Wayfinding Sign:
