Millennium Park Opens More Green Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 16, 2002
Contact: Jack Beary
(312) 744-9277

Millennium Park has opened its North Promenade and added a section of new landscaping over part of the Metra tracks between Randolph and Washington Streets, Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC) officials said today.

The newly completed sections bring to 8.5 acres the amount of park space turned over to the Chicago Park District in the current phase of construction, which covers 11 acres, officials said. When completed, the lush lakefront park will take in 24 acres.

Last month, Millennium Park's inaugural exhibition opened in the McCormick Tribune Plaza. The North American debut of the spectacular "Earth From Above" photo exhibit, presented by Exelon Corporation, opened to the public on June 21 and runs through September 15. Also in June, the PBC, which is building the city-front park, turned over four more acres of completed park-scape around the plaza to the Chicago Park District. The south lawn was the scene of a luau promoting the release of the animated Disney film "Lilo and Stitch."

Visitors to Millennium Park now may enjoy a new outdoor café that opened this summer and, like the photo exhibit, will run through mid- September. The Park Grill Café offers food, soft drinks, beer and wine and will give way to a permanent indoor restaurant, officials said.

Later this year, the Peristyle structure and fountain will be completed near Randolph Street. The new Music Pavilion, designed by Frank Gehry, and a 100-ton reflective sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor will complete the park over the next two years.