July 20, 2004

	Images Courtesy Ruder-Finn
	Images Courtesy Chicago Public Building Commission

Chicago’s Millenium Park [May Correspondent’s File] opened last weekend, stunning crowds and drawing worldwide attention to a city already known for architecture.

Highlights of the 24-acre, $450 million cultural and recreational space include a twisting, stainless steel bandshell and pedestrian bridge by Frank Gehry, a highly reflective, teardrop-shaped sculpture by Anish Kapoor, a sculptural fountain/ video installation by Jaume Plensa, and contemporary landscape design by Kathryn Gustafson. Other elements include a public theater, a bicycle station, a promenade, and an ice rink.

Located between Lake Michigan and Michigan Avenue, the site was formerly an eyesore, marked by a rail yard and parking lot. It now serves not only as a respite for locals, but as a tourist magnet and a landmark for the city. Thousands attended its opening weekend celebration beginning July 16. The project was funded by the city, corporations, and wealthy Chicago families, who saw the original price tag balloon to three times original estimates, and saw completion delayed by four years. Skidmore Owings & Merrill’s original Beaux-Arts scheme, which featured a concert venue and garden built atop an underground parking garage, was mostly scrapped.

While the park serves as a proud attraction, some locals have complained that its budget has hurt other local projects. That doesn’t seem to bother Mayor Richard M. Daley, who has made the park one of the centerpieces of his grand vision to recreate the city’s built environment.

Sam Lubell

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