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AN EXAMPLE OF AN “ICON” URBAN PARK ITS PLANNING AND DESIGN
Millennium Park, Chicago
Location
Birdseye view of development as it would have occurred in the Burnham Plan.
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
Grant Park Millennium 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
In the parking garage
Starting from underneath
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The theater is underground and below the water table
A “left over space” turned event site.
The park is like a house with rooms… Harris Theater Roof
Rent bikes to tourists and store bikes for commuters
McDonald’s Cycle Center
Designed by Frank Gehry
Pritzker Pavilion
- Blue Grass Turf
- Is fenced off periodically
The Great Lawn (living room)
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
Beautiful sculpture but “gate” is not accurate
AT&T Plaza & Cloud Gate “The Bean”
Made of 168 stainless steel plates welded and buffed
$70, 000 spent to clean finger prints annually
Cloud Gate (The Bean)
Reflects people and the city
Roost for gulls
The Bean
Dining in summer
Ice skating in winter
McCormick Tribune Plaza
Burnham Pavilions
Chase Promenade South
These spaces (rooms) offers flexibility for rotating exhibits and hallway connectivity for flow of users
How visitors behave in parks
Water to touch
Native plants, prairie look
Lurie Garden
In the Lurie Garden designers used the garden hedge as a wall
The steel form is an artistic frame for the hedge
This “room” is well defined by the hedge and pathway around edge
Also a Gehry design, serpentine form reflects the pavilion
Turned out to be a good sound barrier
BP Bridge (pedestrian only)
Very touchable water
People playing becomes a show for others
Crown Fountain (play room)
Filmed faces of "regular" Chicago residents are rotated
Yet another room in the park – another experience
Crown Fountain
Formal, reflects Roman columns found around the city
Quieter “room” not as much activity
Wrigley Square
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