Millennium Park, Chicago

AN EXAMPLE OF AN “ICON” URBAN PARK ITS PLANNING AND DESIGN Location A park was envisioned for the Chicago Lakefront as a part of the “Burnham Plan.”

Burnham envisioned a “frontyard” for the city.

Approximate location of Millennium Park

A portion of modern day Grant Park Birdseye view of development as it would have occurred in the Burnham Plan. Millennium Park Grant Park

Current Park Map The park is a “green roof”

Train Train Characteristics of Interest

 The park site was a surface parking lot for 900 cars in 1997  Park was completed in 2004  24 acres in size; approximately 12 acres of hard surface and 12 of green  Base cost: approx. $500 million - $220 million raised by private donors; $270 from city  Research indicated that it was the #1 urban tourist attraction in the US in 2006 (higher than the Las Vegas Strip and Central Park) and remains in top 5  Estimate $2.6 billion annually in tourist spending related to the park  Over 1000 FTEs created by the park (e.g., visitor service)

Characteristics of Interest (continued)

 Ten new condo projects in last 5 years (over 3,600 units) adjacent to the park  Property values around the park have risen 40% more than those just a few blocks away  Revenue from garages and a TIF are being used to pay off the debt (bonds)  The park is not part of the local park district but is managed by Millennium Park Inc. (501-C3) and Dept. of Cultural Affairs  The park is “owned” by the City of Chicago  Revenue from bus stop advertising across the entire city is used to maintain the park

A Tour of the Park Starting from underneath

In the parking garage Harris Theater for Music and Dance

The theater is underground and below the water table The park is like a house with rooms… Harris Theater Roof

A “left over space” turned event site.

McDonald’s Cycle Center

Rent bikes to tourists and store bikes for commuters Pritzker Pavilion

Designed by Frank Gehry The Great Lawn (living room)

- Blue Grass Turf - Is fenced off periodically Choice of Seating

Free concerts every Friday during summer

Programming is also a vital part of this park’s success. This is an international music festival summer 2009 – free concerts every day of the week

Overhead Structure

Designed to create roof effect and to support sound system Unexpected bonus: Canadian Geese won’t fly through Canadian Geese have become pests…

They set up shop

They are often unfriendly

They defecate all over the place AT&T Plaza & Cloud Gate “The Bean”

Beautiful sculpture but “gate” is not accurate Cloud Gate (The Bean)

Made of 168 stainless steel $70, 000 spent to clean plates welded and buffed finger prints annually The Bean

Reflects people and the Roost for gulls city McCormick Tribune Plaza

Dining in summer Ice skating in winter Chase Promenade South

Burnham Pavilions

These spaces (rooms) offers flexibility for rotating exhibits and hallway connectivity for flow of users How visitors behave in parks Lurie Garden

Water to touch Native plants, prairie look This “room” is well defined by the hedge and pathway around edge

In the Lurie Garden designers The steel form is an artistic used the garden hedge as a wall frame for the hedge BP Bridge (pedestrian only)

Also a Gehry design, serpentine form reflects the pavilion Turned out to be a good sound barrier Crown Fountain (play room)

Very touchable water People playing becomes a show for others Crown Fountain

Filmed faces of "regular" Yet another room in the Chicago residents are rotated park – another experience Wrigley Square

Formal, reflects Roman Quieter “room” not as columns found around the city much activity

Take Home Points

 Elevation differences, vegetation and some structures create “room” like experiences throughout the park.  Good design incorporates thought about what visitors will do:  Touch  Sit, Lay  Climb  Roll, Slide  Splash  Watch  How does wildlife figure in?  Birds will roost and poop  People are interested in wildlife  Can become dependent pests (not good for them or visitors)

Take Home Points

 The park was planned, designed and constructed through political will (Mayor Daley) and a public private partnership  The park is one of many in US at the heart of major urban revitalization projects – most are also partnerships (e.g., The High Line in NYC; Discovery Green in Houston)  Major implications for local jobs and revenue through tourism the park generates  People are moving into this downtown area because of the park