FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
Isaac Reichman, ireichman@choosechicago.com, (312) 805-9586
Stephen Crano, scrano@choosechicago.com, (312) 567-8505
Michelle Gonzalez, mgonzalez@choosechicago.com, (312) 259-5708
Forty permanent interpretive wayfinding signs have been installed encouraging residents and visitors to explore local businesses and cultural highlights
CHICAGO (January 12, 2026) — Choose Chicago today 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.
“My administration is committed to equitable investment in our neighborhoods and ensuring every community shares in Chicago’s growth,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This partnership brings culture, history, and accessibility together in a way that strengthens local commercial corridors while helping residents and visitors experience the richness of Chicago’s neighborhoods firsthand.”
Signs feature a neighborhood map and directory highlighting local arts and culture, historic landmarks, green space, transit connections, and key commercial corridors. Content also includes historic and cultural context, neighborhood photography, and suggestions for nearby places to explore—reinforcing Chicago’s identity as a city of vibrant, experience-rich neighborhoods.
“Neighborhood Wayfinding is about storytelling and deeper economic benefit,” said Rob Fojtik, Vice President of Neighborhood Strategy at Choose Chicago. “By placing these signs where people already move through our neighborhoods, we’re creating new community-based invitations to linger, learn, support local businesses, and experience local cultural attractions.”
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
“Choose Chicago has been an invaluable partner over the years through their support at our events and broader marketing campaigns,” said Sarah Wilson, Executive Director of Uptown United & Uptown Chamber of Commerce. “They’ve come through again with the installation of highly visual signage at key intersections of Uptown. These new signs bring the branding of our neighborhood down to the street level—all while showcasing the gems of Uptown to both neighbors and visitors alike.”
“The South Shore community has long been a gateway to the culture, history, and the natural beauty of Chicago’s South Side,” said Tonya Trice, Executive Director of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. “These new wayfinding signs help visitors and neighbors discover the small businesses, lakefront assets, and artistic legacy that make South Shore so special. And with the Obama Presidential Center opening in 2026 nearby, this initiative arrives at the perfect moment, inviting people to explore more deeply, stay longer, and experience the full vibrancy of our community.”
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.
###
About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global tourism and meetings destination—the city that’s Never Done and Never Outdone. Choose Chicago leverages the city’s unmatched assets to enrich the community by attracting meetings, events, and more than 55 million annual visitors, generating over $20 billion in economic impact. Follow @choosechicago and tag #NeverOutdoneChi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.
