Major Taylor Trail Keepers was founded in 2017 by Brenda Dixon as the Community Neighborhood Improvement Project (CNIP) that sought to improve the Major Taylor Trail. By 2019, we became known as the Major Taylor Trail Keepers Chicago, with Brenda as President and Chief Executive Officer and a board that includes some of the earliest advocates for the Major Taylor Trail. (You can hear Keith Holt and board member Peter Taylor talk about the trail’s history on episode 3 of our 2024 CAN TV program).
We also expanded the board to include community leaders and cyclists. As a public non-profit, the organization was finally able to receive grants that allowed them to commence its mission. We’re grateful to Active Transportation Alliance for serving as our fiscal sponsor when we started.
Mission
Major Taylor Trail Keepers Chicago (MTTKC) is an Illinois not-for-profit community organization created to improve the lives of individuals and families residing in historically underserved neighborhoods by working to make their environment and communities of residence a place that is a fun, healthy, and safe place to live, work, and play.
Vision
Major Taylor Trail Keepers Chicago is a champion for collaborating with city, county, and State affiliates and other like-minded organizations to increase public awareness and understanding of community issues with an emphasis on public art, transportation, parks, recreation, and economic development in communities that have historically been underserved.
Our work goes beyond trail cleanups and infrastructure. We activate the Major Taylor Trail as a living, public humanities platform that connects people through shared stories, cultural history, and collective healing. We uplift the legacy of Marshall “Major” Taylor, a world champion Black cyclist and symbol of resilience, to reclaim green space as a source of joy, reflection, and justice.
Through community storytelling events, youth engagement, justice-oriented cycling programs, and partnerships rooted in equity, we use the trail to honor the past and reimagine the future — where all residents have the opportunity to move safely, feel connected, and shape the identity of their neighborhoods.
Thank you
We recognize the support and connection of the Major Taylor Cycling Club Chicago, whose mission and members overlap with ours and for their longstanding support of the Major Taylor Trail.
Board Members
Dr. Brenda M. Dixon, President
Peter Taylor, Vice President
James McCoy, Treasurer
A.J. Arrington, Jr. Secretary
Dr. Ed Dixon – Voting Board Member at Large
Dominique C. Arrington – Voting Board Member at Large
Randy Neufeld – Voting Board Member at Large
The Major Taylor Trail
Getting here and around +
Things to do near Major Taylor Trail
Looking for us? In addition to the Forest Preserves and Park District maps and information pages, you’ll find interactive maps at AllTrails, TrailLink and the Center for Neighborhood Technology’s Chicago Bike Routes map.
Need some ideas for things to do while you’re here? There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat or chat over coffee—or a glass of mead. Some highlights include: Wild Blossom Meadery, Original Rainbow Cone, Afro Joe’s, Two Mile, and these restaurants (via Google Maps).
Cook County Forest Preserves
You’ll find trailheads/endpoints with parking and restrooms at Dan Ryan Woods-North Forest Preserve (parking lot north of 83rd Street and just east of Western Avenue is nearest to trail) and in Whistler Woods Forest Preserve near 134th and Halsted streets.
You can review Forest Preserves’ recent investments in the Trail and see ongoing work as well as access trail maps on their Major Taylor Trail page.
Chicago Park District
The Major Taylor Trail Bike Trail is also city Park Number 548. Most of the route is off-street trail that runs through the Cook County Forest Preserve’s Dan Ryan Woods and Whistler Woods, and park space managed by the Chicago Park District. A portion of the trail is on-street bike lanes managed by the Chicago Department of Transportation.
Our Work
Transit
Public transit users are healthier, as they are actively moving through their daily lives. Whether catching a train, riding a bike or getting on a bus, it is proven that those who use public transportation get three times more physical activity per day than those who don’t. This leads to an overall happier community with active and healthy neighbors.
Bike trails offer communities the ability to sightsee and get invaluable exercise in the comfort of their neighborhood. Public transportation, including trains and buses, also promotes positive interactions between neighbors. It is an opportunity for the entire community to be one – including people with disabilities.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the nation’s second-largest public transportation system – serving the City of Chicago and 40 neighboring communities by rail and bus.
To ride the CTA go here.
Bicycling
This environmentally-friendly method of transportation has risen and declined in popularity over the years, and today it is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the nation. Bicycling has also become popular as a workout regimen and has been proven to provide significant health benefits.
Bicycling provides significant health benefits since it works almost all the muscles and systems in the body, including the skeletal system, the cardiovascular system, the mental/emotional state, and the immune system. Bike riding provides a family-friendly workout and fun exercise for all ages. It is also so adaptable that it can fit almost every need and physical limitation and does not require a lot of expensive equipment. You can bike almost anywhere you like.
We work to promote bike trail safety and to increase the number of family-friendly bike trails in Chicago’s South Side communities. Chicago is known as one of the best large cities in the US for bicycling. The City of Chicago has achieved this goal by investing in bicycling infrastructure and promoting education, awareness, and advocacy.
For more information about the City of Chicago Bike Program, go here.
Walking
A scenic, woodside rest next to a piece of beautiful, original public art in a community park makes for the perfect stroll through the neighborhood as you pace the local walking trail. Whether you prefer getting a relaxing breath of fresh air, or challenging yourself with a long steady walk to maintain your heart rate, we are working to make sure that you’ll find what you’re looking for just outside your front door on South Side walking and biking trails.
To learn more and to find out how you can help, contact the MTTK at [email protected]