September 18, 2025
Chicago – The Alliance of the Southeast (ASE), Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC), Friends of the Parks (FOTP), and community leaders are gathering on Saturday (link to flyer here) September 20th at noon to celebrate a major victory stopping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed new toxic dredged waste landfill along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago’s Southeast Side community, which has historically been overburdened by toxic pollution. As a result of community opposition and a lawsuit brought in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by ELPC public interest attorneys on behalf of Plaintiffs ASE and FOTP, and the Illinois EPA’s denial of required state clean water permits, the Army Corps has officially withdrawn its flawed Record of Decision for its Environmental Impact Statement. The Army Corps was proposing to build the new toxic dredged waste landfill up to 25-feet high on top of “confined disposal facility” (CDF) the Corps has been filling up with toxic dredged material from the Calumet River since the 1980s. This site was long promised to become a new lakefront park after the CDF was filled.
“The community is coming together to celebrate this significant victory. We celebrate the Army Corps’ decision to withdraw their proposal to add a 25-feet high toxic landfill on our lakefront, and next to Calumet Park,” said Amalia NietoGomez, ASE’s Executive Director. “We look forward to working with the Chicago Park District, the Mayor’s Office, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to finally transform this land into a long-promised lakefront park for the community to enjoy.”
Chicago’s Southeast Side has long been overburdened by toxic pollution. Stopping the Army Corps’ proposed new toxic waste landfill is a major victory for environmental justice and protecting Lake Michigan.
“Chicago’s lakefront is for people and parks, not for toxic waste dumps. At this moment, we are celebrating a hard-earned victory as Chicago community activists, public interest attorneys and parks supporters have worked hand-in-hand to advance environmental justice, lakefront protection and common sense together,” said Howard Learner, ELPC’s Executive Director and lead counsel for the Plaintiff community organizations.
Learner added: “This victory is an important precedent for Chicago and the Midwest. The Army Corps has withdrawn its misguided proposal to add more toxic pollution instead of facilitating the long-promised new lakefront park for community residents and all Chicagoans to use and enjoy. We look forward to the Army Corps cleaning up and remediating the site and moving on to better alternatives. Going forward, let’s work together to build on this success to keep advancing environmental justice and achieve better protection for our Great Lakes where we live, work and play.”
“Turning this landfill that has been collecting toxic waste over the past five decades in an environmental justice community into a new lakefront park is a monumental achievement,” said Brian Gladstein, FOTP’s Executive Director. “A new park will be a vital asset for the community, for all Chicago residents, and can serve as a model for the country of how to turn toxic land into a green space for everyone to enjoy.”
The community is looking forward to celebrating this major victory for its residents on Saturday, September 20, at noon at Salut Center, 3039 E. 91st Street, Chicago, IL 60617. The gathering will honor the residents, advocates, and organizations who have dedicated years of effort, energy, and commitment to protecting their community and ensuring a healthier, safer environment for future generations. Complimentary food and drinks will be served.
Speakers at the event will include:
Local Southeast Side residents – Standing Witnesses in the federal lawsuit
Amalia NietoGomez, Executive Director, Alliance of the Southeast
Howard Learner, Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center
Brian Gladstein, Executive Director, Friends of the Parks