Chapter 3 Urban Design, Waterfront & Open Space Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Page 3-2 Chapter 3: Urban Design, Waterfront & Open Space August 2009 ProJECT Status UPDATE nvestments in parks, waterfront Chicago River Museum: The McCor- Iamenities and streetscape and cor- mick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago ridor enhancements are essential if a River Museum is open in the south- high quality-of-life is to be maintained west bridge tower of the Michigan in Chicago’s Central Area. The Cen- Avenue Bridge. tral Area contains the most densely developed and expensive land in Chi- Ping Tom Park Phase 1: The first cago, presenting a challenge to the phase of Ping Tom Park along the Chi- provision of open space and recre- cago River in Chinatown is complete. ational amenities for its growing num- bers of residents, workers, students Walter Payton Campus Park: A cam- and visitors. pus park at Walter Payton College Preparatory School at Oak and Wells Completed projects is complete. (2001-2006) Image 3-1: New park space has been added Neighborhood Parks: A number of in the center of the Lake Shore East devel- Millennium Park: Millennium Park is opment. community parks to serve adjacent complete and serves as Chicago’s sig- residential and mixed-use neighbor- nature downtown park around which hoods are complete: high levels of private sector invest- ment are occurring. • Park #546 at Lakeshore East • Park #513 at 15th & Indiana Grant Park Framework Plan: This • Heritage Green Park (At Adams plan defines a series of enhancements & DesPlaines across from Old St. to improve the function and appear- Patrick’s Church) ance of Grant Park over a multi-year timeline. Wacker Pier/Renovated Coast Guard Station: Following a complete reno- Work Process vation, the Chicago Marine Safety At four meetings and several small Station now houses the Coast Guard, group work sessions over six the Illinois Conservation Police and months, the Urban Design, Wa- the Chicago Police Marine Unit. terfront & Open Space Task Force Image 3-2: The completion of Millennium followed a three-step process to Park and its open space and recreational amenities creates a signature attraction. River Access through Montgomery review and refine strategies and Ward Site: The residential and com- projects. mercial redevelopment of the former Montgomery Ward headquarters 1. Confirmed status of 2003 campus now includes a public walk- Central Area Plan projects way along the riverfront. and identified additional proj- ects Veteran’s Memorial: The Vietnam 2. Conducted a goals and needs Veteran’s Memorial located along the analysis Chicago River at Wacker and State is 3. Identified costs, implementa- complete, providing a high-quality, tion factors, and project rec- open space anchor for the Riverwalk ommendations system. The Task Force also assessed the design issues related to five dis- trict focus areas and five signature streets through charrettes and mobile workshops. Image 3-3: The first phase of Ping Tom Park has been completed along the South Branch. Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Chapter 3: Urban Design, Waterfront & Open Space Page 3-3 August 2009 ProJECT Status UPDATE • Park #547 at 18th & Calumet Projects Underway or • Franklin School Campus Park at Nearing Completion 225 W. Evergreen (2007-2008) • Park #511 at 630 North Kingsbury East Wacker Drive Riverwalk: River- (Erie Park) walk features and vendor space along South Loop Annex School/Teachers the southern edge of the Chicago Academy: The campus park at the River are in place between Michigan South Loop Annex School/Teachers and Franklin. Academy, located at 55 W. Cermak Road, is complete. Northerly Island: The Northerly Is- land Framework Plan is underway to Soccer Fields at Moody Bible Insti- develop improvements that will make tute: New play fields are in place this a key waterfront park amenity between LaSalle and Wells at Moody area. Image 3-4: The campus park at the Teach- Bible Institute. er’s Academy has added functional open Streetscape Projects: A series of space in the Near South. Plaza at Chicago and State: A new streetscape improvements are in the public plaza at Chicago and State, ad- design stage, scheduled for imple- jacent to McDonalds, is complete. mentation, or under construction: Chicago Lakefront Harbor Frame- • Congress Streetscape – Michigan work Plan: Completed plans to ex- Avenue to Wells Street pand the Chicago harbor system • Michigan Avenue Streetscape include a new transient boat facility – Roosevelt to 24th Street adjacent to Navy Pier and new har- • Wabash Phase 1 – Wacker to bors at 31st and 87th Streets. Harrison • Wabash Phase 2 – Harrison to Couch Place: A “Green Alley” dem- Roosevelt onstration project. Park Projects: Six public parks are in the design phase: • Library Tower Park – Harrison & State • 24th & Federal Image 3-5: Improvements continue along • Pritzker Park Reconfiguration the existing Lakefront Trail. – State & Van Buren • Park at Roosevelt Collection • Kinzie Park – Kinzie & Des- Plaines • Printers Row Park • Park at Adams & Sangamon • Park behind 16th & Wabash Image 3-6: New harbor space will be add- ed along the Lakefront, including Gateway Harbor at Navy Pier Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Page 3-4 Chapter 3: Urban Design, Waterfront & Open Space August 2009 Goals AND NEEDS he 2003 Central Area Plan estab- of a healthy urban environment. Tlished a major theme of expanded Maintaining and improving upon and connected waterfronts and open Chicago’s urban design to opti- spaces to create great public places. mize its environmental benefits It also set goals for urban design by preserving, expanding and im- within the Central Area. The Urban proving the quality and function Design Task Force took these goals of vegetated areas; capturing, as a starting point for the action plan- cleaning and using precipitation; ning process, establishing key needs encouraging water conserva- for each goal and using them to help tion; and contributing towards prioritize the proposed urban design improved air quality will ensure a projects. cleaner environment for current and future generations. • Sustainable open spaces: Sustain- Image 3-7: The green roof atop City Hall ably designed and maintained, serves as an example for other buildings in the Central Area. Strengthen Chicago as an publicly-accessible parks, wa- Environmentally Sustainable City terfronts and open spaces will • High performance green build- improve the quality of life in Chi- ings: The design and construction cago and engage people in the of new buildings will continue to outdoors environment. be improved by meeting exist- • Green streets and public right-of- ing and new sustainable build- ways: Discouraging the use of ing standards. The renovation of personal vehicles by encouraging existing buildings and a commit- alternative modes of transporta- ment to historic preservation will tion such as walking, biking and save resources and reduce waste public transit will help lower our while preserving the character of City’s carbon emissions and help the Central Area. Increasing the mitigate global climate change. energy efficiency of buildings by These objectives can be reached upgrading energy and building through the implementation of the codes and using density bonuses City’s Green Streets/Alleys program, and expedited approval process- the Green Urban Design (GUD) and Image 3-8: Erie Park along the North es as incentives will help Chicago Branch has become a focal point for resi- Chicago Climate Change recommen- dential development. reduce its contribution to global dations, and revisions to the Open climate change. Space Impact Fee. • Environmental regulations, poli- cies and incentives promoting green building: Building Green/ Green Roof Policy; 2001 Energy Strengthen the Lakefront as Plan; Energy Code; Stormwater Chicago’s Great Public Space Ordinance; Landscape Ordi- • Improved connections to the Lake- nance; Green Permitting Pro- front: Identify strategies to better gram; Green Roof Improvement connect the Lakefront to all neigh- Fund; Green Roof Density Bonus; borhoods and business districts Green Roof Website (www.chi- within the Central Area. cagogreenroofs.org); Green Roof • Improved Lakefront Trail system: Grant Program; and the Chicago Define projects that will improve Green Homes Program. problematic conditions along the • Clean air, land and water: Clean air Lakefront Trail in the Central Area. and water, resource conservation A high priority is the configuration Image 3-9: The second Phase of Ping Tom and biodiversity are key elements Park will continue this award-winning public space north of 18th Street. Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Chapter 3: Urban Design, Waterfront & Open Space Page 3-5 August 2009 Goals AND NEEDS of the Lakefront Trail between Grant Park, Northerly Island and Navy Pier and North Avenue, in- Ping Tom Park. cluding a dedicated pedestrian •Partnerships with developers and access over the Chicago River. other private donors: Capitalize • Improved Lakefront connections on opportunities to add new pub- to Central Area attractions: Identi- lic open space integrated with or fy projects or initiatives to link the alongside new development proj- Lakefront to the river, coordinat- ects in the Central Area, and iden- ing access between Central Area tify other private partners willing destinations. to fund major new public invest- ments, as in Millennium Park. Develop the Riverfront as a Premier Complete the Central Area’s Frame- Public Space and Continuous work of Richly Landscaped