MKSK at the Chicagoland Movers & Shakers Ball
Designing for Movement, Equity, and Joy.
For the past 40 years, the Active Transportation Alliance’s has been reimagining mobility in the Chicagoland region. To celebrate the milestone, this year’s Movers & Shakers Ball hosted an exposition of forward-thinking design ideas that showcase what the future of sustainable transportation could look like.
MKSK was selected to exhibit two transformational ideas—Take Me to the River and [Wo]man-Made City—exploring how design can reshape mobility and access for all.
[Wo]man-Made City zoomed in on Chicago’s Howard Station, using a gender-equity lens to question how mobility infrastructure can serve caregiving, safety, and dignity—needs often overlooked in traditional transit design.
This work builds on MKSK Associate and Planner, Sarah Lilly’s investigation into gender equitable planning and design practices, and MKSK Associate and Urban Designer, Donny Zellefrow’s work on the One Howard Street Economic Recovery Plan.
Click here to learn more about Sarah’s research and visit the Rogers Park Business Alliance to learn more about the One Howard Street plan.
Howard Station Today
Howard Station Tomorrow
Take Me to the River examines the Chicago River as a missing link of urban active transportation and asks the question “what if the Chicago River were a fundamental part of our transportation system?”
MKSK Associate and Urban Designer Donny Donoghue, and MKSK Associate and Landscape Architect Abigail Fiala propose a bold, integrated vision for water-based transit along the Chicago River, repositioning the river as a core component of the city’s mobility network. Building on existing infrastructure and recent investments in the river corridor, the proposal imagines a system where water taxis and paddle share programs link directly with CTA, Metra, bus, and bike routes—forming a seamless, multimodal network that connects neighborhoods, job centers, and public spaces.
The initiative draws inspiration from successful case studies in cities like Copenhagen, Toronto, and Minneapolis, and identifies local pilot sites—such as Harrison/Polk and Kedzie—for implementation. At its core, Take Me to the River is a recognition the Chicago River’s past and a celebration of its potential to better serve the people and critters (including one locally-famous snapping turtle) that call it home.
Proposed “River Line"
Proposed Mobility Hubs
Both exhibits challenged assumptions and sparked dialogue around who our public spaces are really for—and who gets left out. From accessible green edges to inclusive transit hubs, we believe design can foster justice, joy, and belonging.
Thanks to the Active Transportation Alliance for hosting a night of movement and imagination. Let’s keep building cities that move everyone forward.
[Wo]man-Made City Project Team:
Sarah Lilly, AICP, is an Associate and Urban Planner with MKSK. She is passionate about fostering vibrant communities through meaningful planning processes and public engagement. Through her work, she strives to discover and celebrate the unique assets of each community or place for which she plans, crafting tailored policy and project recommendations that build on their authentic identity. This is reflected in her attention to high-quality graphics, plans, and deliverables. She is actively involved in volunteer and outreach programs to advance the planning profession and foster the next generation of planners.
Donald Zellefrow, AICP, is an Associate Landscape and Urban Designer at MKSK. Donny’s work explores the power of ecology, the promise of technology, and the strength of community. He has brought his passion for the public realm to bear on a variety of complex urban projects while at MKSK including Greenville, South Carolina’s newest signature public space Unity Park, the award-winning Winthrop Family Garden in Chicago, Illinois, and a variety of downtown and district plans throughout the Southeast and Midwest.
Take Me to the River Project Team:
Donny Donoghue, AICP, is an Associate Planner at MKSK. His practice has focused on urban and regional trail systems, sustainable transportation, and public open space planning. Donny has expertise in the ideation and development of regional trails, and has work extensively on landmark multijurisdictional trails across the country. He is driven to create built environments that support communities and make it easier for people to live healthy and active lives. Donny’s process centers on consensus-based decision making and creating shared visions with communities that are equitable, ambitious, and implementable.
Abigail Fiala, ASLA, PLA, is an Associate Landscape Architect at MKSK. Her background includes a diverse range of project types throughout the United States, ranging from large scale planning to small scale built work. Abigail believes in the healing power of landscapes and strives to create inclusive public spaces that foster mental and physical wellness, and feel authentic to the communities they serve. Her experience has allowed her to excel at translating a project from the earliest phases of conceptual design to implementation. Abigail is passionate about creating spaces that inspire, include, and excite.