2009 marked the 100th anniversary of the Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett Plan of Chicago, the visionary document that laid out the scheme for our lakefront, our forest preserves and a city that works for all its residents. 300 cultural, educational and civic partners joined together to provide an unprecedented series of exhibits, tours, lectures, books, concerts, pavilions and a documentary on Burnham’s life.

As a founding sponsor of the centennial, the Trust wanted not only to celebrate the legacy of the Plan, but also to help our region look to its future. The broad range of programming brought the Plan to life and at the same time engaged area residents in regional planning. The stage was set for 2010 when the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will complete the first-ever comprehensive regional plan for northeastern Illinois.