Complete Story
07/28/2025
Pockets of Joy: Discovering People Spaces in Ravenswood
On July 23rd, the APA-IL Chicago Metro Section (APA-CMS) and attendees met representatives from The Lakota Group at the Ravenswood Metra Station in Chicago. The Lakota Group led the group to several neighborhood destinations to see firsthand the results of Lakota’s urban design and landscape architecture: creating pockets of spaces for people within a dense, active community.
Working with the Chamber and SSA, Lakota’s urban designers and planners engaged residents to identify locations and ideas for these micro public spaces. The team repurposed existing public areas, redesigning small sections of parkway or embankment/right-of-way along the rail lines that define the Ravenswood neighborhood. Although these “people spaces” are distributed throughout the neighborhood, consistent design elements unify them. Pops of bright yellow, cool blue-grey decomposed granite, and warm ipe wood create an inviting palette, encouraging passersby to pause and linger during their daily routines.
Thanks to Siraj Asfahani and the Lakota Group Team, 2024-25 APA-IL Tier I Sponsor, for leading this tour! In attendance: Kevin Clark, AICP, Siraj Asfahani, Andy Cross, AICP, Lauren King, and Alexis Stein.