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Chicago Tribune
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Edward Keegan: Millennium Park has failed to live up to its promise
If you were born when Millennium Park opened, you'll be enjoying legal cocktails this summer. And while the park's landscaping is also achieving maturity, it's not clear when the popular venue will function again as the public park it was meant to be. The result of a lengthy and often ad hoc design process that involved innumerable top-notch players, the 24.5 acres at the northwest corner of Grant Park were designed to invite the public to its varied attractions. But the contagion of unsightly crowd control barriers, often coupled with cumbersome security checks, has thwarted public access and become the unfortunate norm in recent years. Millennium Park was the first important public space in the United States in the 21st century. When it opened in 2004, Millennium Park was rightly hailed as a new kind of park, and it has proved to be a precursor to a generation of vibrant new urban spaces that include New York's High Line (2009), The 606 (2015) and the Chicago Riverwalk (2016). In the years prior to its opening, much of the press about Millennium Park, most especially in this newspaper, focused on the increasingly higher costs above the initial estimates. But the ballooning budget reflected an increasingly ambitious scope shepherded by design director and master planner Ed Uhlir, which changed from a modest bandshell and revamped parking garage to the stunning art- and design-driven series of spaces we now know. And those hundreds of millions of additional dollars were largely offset by epic philanthropic fundraising led by Sara Lee CEO John H. Bryan. The public reaction on the park's opening that July centered on the park's considerable design features with Frank Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavilion; Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain; Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate (also known as The Bean); and Kathryn Gustafson, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel's Lurie Garden as the main attractions. These inventive venues are high art that doesn't pander and were conceived to be fully accessible. But recent years have seen Millennium Park's original promise diminished by bad public policy and safety concerns that need to be reconsidered. And today, many parts of the park are showing their age. The Gehry-designed trellis above the Pritzker Pavilion's lawn is currently undergoing extensive repairs. Much of the concrete on both sides of the bandshell is cracked and spalling; original signage is badly faded and dated; and the much-needed public restrooms need a good refresh. In contrast, Cloud Gate and the plaza it sits on look great — the result of renovations completed last year. But Crown Fountain could use a similar overhaul. The very idea of the public park is America's most important design contribution to the 19th century. Early examples like New York's Central Park, Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Boston's Fens and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park were almost always placed in a central location, open to all without a cost of admission. Parks throughout the country became central to cities' identities and their public lives. Frederick Law Olmsted was not just our foremost landscape designer but also a proselytizer for the role of parks as civic institutions and promoters of public health. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Millennium Park — 'the best thing former Mayor Richard M. Daley ever did' — 20 years later And parks are a key part of Chicago's design legacy. Our boulevard-linked system of large parks — Jackson and Washington parks on the South Side, Douglass and Humboldt parks on the West Side, and Lincoln Park on the North Side — combined the considerable talents of Olmsted, Calvert Vaux and William Le Baron Jenney, among others. The boulevard system's 26-mile length touches on numerous neighborhoods throughout the city. These green open spaces often spurred the initial development of these neighborhoods and can provide an impetus for their ongoing renewal. While still one of our newest parks, it's important to recognize that Millennium Park's efficacy as a public park has been hampered in recent years. Originally, ticketed events were rare: The occasional big artist necessitated temporary fencing around the pavilion and its lawn. But recent years have seen 'temporary' fencing around the perimeter of the entire park, and many periods when entry is tightly controlled with invasive security searches and long lines to just visit the park. Much of this can be attributed to public safety concerns during the pandemic, but it's long past time that these anti-democratic restrictions are removed. Ticketed events should be the rare exception. Gates and fences should be eliminated. This corner of Grant Park might be the most accessible single spot in the entire city, with abundant public transportation. CTA buses and trains are available nearby, and Metra and South Shore Line trains stop at Millennium Station directly below the park. And car parking is not a problem with 3,976 spaces underneath in the Grant Park North and Millennium Park garages. But this public access is no longer reflected at the perimeter of the park, where the fencing is seldom removed. Balancing maintenance and repair with public access isn't easy. But adding militaristic public safety measures shouldn't be a part of Millennium Park. Millennium Park was Mayor Richard M. Daley's remarkable response to a gaping hole that revealed railroad tracks and surface parking over the eastern half of the site — neither reflecting what an early cartographer labeled as 'forever open, clear and free' nor Daniel Burnham's vision of the grand formal lakefront park that is Grant Park. Jose More, Chicago Tribune 1 of 24 Millennium Park's original attractions still hold genuine power, allowing you to see yourself and the city reflected in The Bean's fun house mirror; to walk on or be drenched in the water at Crown Fountain; and to hear live music from the exuberant stainless steel explosion of Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion, a contemporary remaking of the traditional proscenium that's reminiscent of Louis Sullivan's rousing 19th century rendition at the Auditorium just a few blocks away. Each of these experiences endures, as designed. But public access to these public assets is vital — and has been severely compromised through the last two mayoral administrations. Millennium Park needs to, once again, become a living, breathing part of the city. Mayor, tear down these walls. Edward Keegan writes, broadcasts and teaches on architectural subjects. Keegan's biweekly architecture column is supported by a grant from former Tribune critic Blair Kamin, as administered by the not-for-profit Journalism Funding Partners. The Tribune maintains editorial control over assignments and content.
Epoch Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Why Chicago Should Be Your Springtime Escape
By Avery Newmark The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Looking for an easy city escape this spring? Chicago is just a quick flight from many American cities, often at surprisingly affordable rates. You'll touch down in a city bursting with incredible art, amazing food, and experiences straight out of your favorite movies. Here's how to live your best Chicago weekend this spring. Bueller? Bueller? Re-create 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' with a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago. This museum spans more than a million square feet and is home to masterpieces like Picasso's 'The Old Guitarist' and Grant Wood's 'American Gothic.' For the full Ferris Bueller experience, follow the museum's official movie tour, which takes you through six key artworks from the film. Next, take in the city from 1,353 feet up at the Willis Tower Skydeck (formerly the Sears Tower), just like Sloan did in the movie. And, of course, no Ferris-style day is complete without catching a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Built in 1914, this legendary ballpark is where Babe Ruth famously called his shot in the 1932 World Series. After the game, celebrate a Cubs win (fingers crossed) with a drink at one of Wrigleyville's lively bars. Float Through History on an Architecture Boat Tour Yes, it's touristy. And you may not even be all that into architecture. But this tour is hands down one of the best ways to experience Chicago. You'll catch one-of-a-kind city views along the river while guides point out architectural gems like the corncob-shaped Marina City towers and the Tribune Tower's dreamy neo-Gothic design. If you can, opt for an evening tour—the city lights reflecting on the water are nothing short of incredible. Snap a Selfie at 'The Bean' No trip to Chicago is complete without a stop at Cloud Gate—better known as 'The Bean.' This massive, mirrored sculpture in Millennium Park distorts the skyline (and your selfie) in the coolest way. People hang out as Chicago's skyline is reflected in the Cloud Gate sculpture, otherwise known as "the Bean," in Millennium Park on May 15, 2022. Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS Laugh The Night Away at Second City If you need a good laugh, head to the legendary Second City. This comedy theater launched the careers of Tina Fey, Bill Murray, and Tim Baltz from 'The Righteous Gemstones.' Shows run nightly with a mix of improv and sharp sketch comedy. Bite Into an authentic Chicago-Style Hot Dog Chicago takes its hot dogs seriously. Anthony Bourdain once called them 'the finest in the land,' and he wasn't wrong. Piled high with mustard, pickles, sport peppers, relish, onions, tomatoes, a dill spear. and celery salt—no ketchup allowed—it's a flavor-packed classic. Grab one at a neighborhood stand or hit up local favorite Superdawg. Swing By The Legendary Green Mill Jazz Club Cap off your evening with live jazz at the Green Mill, a historic club that was once Al Capone's go-to hangout during Prohibition. The vibe is old-school cool, the music is top-notch, and if you want the full experience, order a whiskey soda or a local beer—this isn't a craft cocktail kind of place. Copyright 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Related Stories 3/19/2025 1/23/2025 Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
CBS News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Former Navy sailor pleads guilty to terrorist plot to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in 2022
A former U.S. Navy sailor has pleaded guilty to a 2022 terrorist plot to attack Naval Station Great Lakes in Chicago's northern suburbs, allegedly on behalf of Iran's Revolutionary Guard to avenge the death of an Iranian general killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020. Xuanyu Harry Pang, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and attempting to willfully injure and destroy national defense material, national defense premises, and national defense utilities, with the intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States. Pang, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, moved to the U.S. in 1998, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2022, and was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes for his training. He was charged in the alleged terrorist plot under seal in 2022, and pleaded guilty in November in federal court in Chicago. The charges and plea agreement were unsealed on Thursday. According to the charges, Pang discussed smuggling radioactive polonium into the U.S. to further the plot, took surveillance photos and videos of the outside and inside of Naval Station Great Lakes, and agreed to provide two military uniforms and a cell phone that could be used as a detonator for an explosive device. Pang is being held without bond, and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 27. According to court records, the FBI began investigating Pang in the summer of 2021, when he communicated with an individual in Colombia about potentially carrying out an attack on the U.S. to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, Iran's most elite military unit. Soleimani was assassinated in a U.S. air strike in Iraq in 2020. An undercover FBI employee, posing as an affiliate of the Quds Force, later contacted the individual in Colombia about conducting an attack, and the individual put the FBI employee in touch with Pang, who at the time was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes. Pang later discussed possible targets for the attack with the FBI employee, and shared photos and videos of potential attack sites, including Naval Station Great Lakes. Pang also shared photos of the naval station with the individual from Colombia, who in turn shared them with the undercover FBI employee. In addition, Pang allegedly discussed an attack on the Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park, commonly known as "The Bean," as well as the Michigan Avenue bridge in downtown Chicago. In the fall of 2022, Pang met with another person secretly cooperating with the FBI, including one meeting outside the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, and two meetings at a train station in north suburban Lake Bluff. At an Oct. 8, 2022, meeting in Lake Bluff, Pang discussed targeting the Michigan Avenue bridge, telling the cooperator "you guys are looking for max damage, right?" After the cooperator confirmed that was the case, he gave $3,000 cash to cover the expenses for the surveillance he had conducted, and asked him to acquire two uniforms to help get operatives into Naval Station Great Lakes to carry out the attack. Pang allegedly sent $1,000 in cryptocurrency to the individual from Colombia, and the two agreed to demand more money in the future because they appeared on the verge of carrying out an actual attack. On Oct. 15, 2022, Pang gave the cooperator two U.S. military uniforms and a cell phone that "will be used in a test for a detonator," and the cooperator gave Pang another $2,000. As part of his plea deal, Pang admitted that he and the individual from Colombia discussed a $1 million payment for his help in the plot to attack the naval station. It's unclear when Pang was taken into custody, or why the case was kept under seal for more than two years.
