Aruna & Hari Sharma on the BP Pedestrian Bridge Millennium Park Chicago IL, USA Feb 19, 2014
SB 16: MILLENIUM PARK ( BP BRIDGE)
Chicago Cloud Gate Buckingham Fountain Millennium Park
Chicago Trip Highlights (Day Time)
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed The Bean because of its shape, a name Kapoor initially disliked, but later grew fond of. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet (10 by 20 by 13 m), and weighs 110 short tons (100 t; 98 long tons).
Buckingham Fountain
Buckingham Fountain is a Chicago landmark in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world. Built in a rococo wedding cake style and inspired by the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles, it is meant to allegorically represent Lake Michigan. It operates from April to October, with regular water shows and evening color-light shows. During the winter, the fountain is decorated with festival lights.
Crown Fountain
Crown Fountain is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture featured in Chicago's Millennium Park, which is located in the Loop community area. Designed by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa and executed by Krueck and Sexton Architects, it opened in July 2004.[1][2] The fountain is composed of a black granite reflecting pool placed between a pair of glass brick towers. The towers are 50 feet (15.2 m) tall,[1] and they use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to display digital videos on their inward faces. Construction and design of the Crown Fountain cost $17 million.[3] The water operates from May to October,[4] intermittently cascading down the two towers and spouting through a nozzle on each tower's front face.
BP Bridge
The BP Pedestrian Bridge, or simply BP Bridge, is a girder footbridge in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It spans Columbus Drive to connect Maggie Daley Park (formerly, Daley Bicentennial Plaza) with Millennium Park, both parts of the larger Grant Park. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry and structurally engineered by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, it opened along with the rest of Millennium Park on July 16, 2004.[1] Gehry had been courted by the city to design the bridge and the neighboring Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and eventually agreed to do so after the Pritzker family funded the Pavilion.
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Chicago Millenium Park BP Bridge
According to the Millenium Park website, the BP Bridge connects the mark to Daley Bicentennial Plaza, east of the park. This 925-foot-long winding bridge, Frank Gehry's first, provides incomparable views of the Chicago skyline, Grant Park and Lake Michigan. Clad in brushed stainless steel panels, the BP Bridge complements the Pritzker Pavilion in function as well as design by creating an acoustic barrier from the traffic noise below. It also has a 5% slope to allow easy access for people who are physically challenged.
BP Bridge, Chicago Millenium Park
Trying out my new Go Pro Hero Cam. This is the HD Motorsport HERO model out of the casing and just skimming the surface of the BP Bridge and having some creative fun with it. Made me feel like I was in an aircraft skimming the surface. Remember, there is no viewfinder on this (yet) but I was still able to do some fairly good composition with it. Enjoy!
CHICAGO - Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain, Chicago, Illinois,
CHICAGO - Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Travel, 4K UHD
Videography by THE TABLE
Copyright ⓒ 2019 THE TABLE, All Rights Reserved.
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and managed by MB Real Estate. The park was originally intended to celebrate the third millennium and is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central's rail yards, and parking lots. The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction and by 2017 it had become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. In 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design. Millennium Park has free admission, and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest, and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns. The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park.
In 2017, Millennium Park was the top tourist destination in Chicago and the Midwest, and placed among the top ten in the United States with 25 million annual visitors.
[4k] Walking Tour of Millennium Park (Cloud Gate, Bean Sculpture) Chicago Illinois USA
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and managed by MB Real Estate. The park was originally intended to celebrate the third millennium and is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central's rail yards, and parking lots.[1] The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction and by 2017 it had become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. In 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design.[2] Millennium Park has free admission,[3] and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.[3][4] It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest,[5] and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns.[6] The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park.
In 2017, Millennium Park was the top tourist destination in Chicago and the Midwest, and placed among the top ten in the United States with 25 million annual visitors.[7]
Wikipedia
US Chicago, Millennium Park 3D VR Stereogram Magic eye, 3D SBS, Google Earth, 시카고 매직아이
US Chicago, Millennium Park 3D VR Stereogram Magic eye, 3D SBS, Google Earth, 시카고 매직아이
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and managed by MB Real Estate. The park was originally intended to celebrate the third millennium and is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central's rail yards, and parking lots.[1] The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction and by 2017 it had become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. In 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design. Millennium Park has free admission, and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.
It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest, and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns.
The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park.
In 2017, Millennium Park was the top tourist destination in Chicago and the Midwest, and placed among the top ten in the United States with 25 million annual visitors.
35th St Pedestrian Bridge
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Alderman Will Burns recently celebrated new work to construct a new pedestrian bridge at 35th Street over Lake Shore Drive, which will be a modern, S-shaped suspension bridge that will replace a dilapidated structure and create a stronger and more aesthetically pleasing connection between the lakefront and the Bronzeville neighborhood.
The $23 million construction project is being led by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and supported by $18 million from the US Department of Transportation and $5 million from the State of Illinois.
The new bridge is expected to open in October 2015. During construction, work will be staged to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction and one sidewalk 35th Street from Cottage Grove to Lake Park and on Lake Park from 35th to 36th Street.
The existing bridge is now closed and will be demolished in the coming weeks. The detour for pedestrian access to the lakefront trail is at Oakwood Boulevard over Lake Shore Drive.
For more information visit:
chicagoDOT.org
Chicago: Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago, and originally intended to celebrate the third millennium. It is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central rail yards, and parking lots. The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction and by 2017 it had become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. In 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design. Millennium Park has free admission, and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest, and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns. The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park.
Family Work and Play trip to Chicago Illinois. Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, Shedd Aquarium and more!
Our family took a week-long trip to Chicago, Illinois from October 21-28, 2018. This wasn't a dedicated vacation trip... it hardly ever is. It was a combination of work and play. Makaila is an accounting manager and her company paid to send her to Chicago to attend a week-long seminar to continue her education and knowledge in her field. Makaila and I decided it would be great if I and London could tag along. Unfortunately, Tristen had school that week so he could not join us.
While Makaila was in the seminar, London and I would walk around downtown Chicago. As soon as Makaila's seminar ended each day, we would go out and see as much as we could together. Wednesday was the one day that Makaila did not have to attend her seminar. We planned to spend the whole day going around. What we didn't plan is London and Makaila getting sick (we think food poisoning) so that threw things off a bit.
During the week we were still able to visit and view some of the great parts of Chicago including: Shedd Aquarium, 360 Chicago, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate aka The Bean, Maggie Daley Park, The Magnificent Mile, Grant Park, Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago Water Tower, Seneca Playground Park, and Chicago Lakefront Trail.
We have family that lives in Valparaiso, Indiana (about 1.2 hours from Chicago) so they came to pick us up from the airport and take us to our hotel. We stayed and spent time with them at the end of our trip for the weekend.
Millenium Park, Pedestrian Bridge
Pedestrian Bridge leading to Millennium Park in Chicago
Tourism in Chicago [IgeoNews]
Chicago has a lot of tourist attractions. In this video are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the Windy City
The Bean (The Bean) is one of the most popular sculptures in Chicago, designed by British artist Anish Kapoor of Indian origin. In reality, their official name is Cloud Gate, but the way it has made everyone call her The Bean.
Navy Pier
It is a spring about a mile near the mouth of the Chicago River into Lake Michigan length.
There is now an amusement park and numerous terraces and restaurants on board a ship anchored there. One of the liveliest places Downtown.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion by Frank Gehry in Millennium Park in Chicago hosts classical music concerts outdoors.
During the day there are trials and everyone can sit and listen to the band for free, and very close to the stage.
Of the 38 bridges spanning the Chicago River as it passes through the city of the same name, the most famous is undoubtedly that of Michigan Avenue. It was not just a technical marvel in its day, but its construction marked the historic moment when Chicago began to spread northward. The extension of Michigan Avenue across the bridge meant the birth of the legendary Magnificent Mile.
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Places to see in ( Chicago - USA ) Millennium Park
Places to see in ( Chicago - USA ) Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, US, and originally intended to celebrate the third millennium. It is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central rail yards, and parking lots. The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction and by 2017 it had become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. In 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design. Millennium Park has free admission, and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest, and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns.
The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park. In 2017, Millennium Park was the top tourist destination in Chicago and the Midwest, and placed among the top ten in the United States with 25 million annual visitors.
( Chicago - USA ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Chicago . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Chicago - USA
Join us for more :
Aruna & hari Sharma walking towards CrownFountain Millennium Park Chicago, IL, USA Feb 19, 2014
Sven & Torty's Journey to Chicago - Episode 5
Welcome back to Q-We Channel again, this is the last Episode of our Journey to Chicago.
We visited the Boystown, which is the gay district in Chicago. I was a bit amazing how big it actually is. Many different shops, restaurants and cool places. I am glad that we found time to visit it. Afterwards, we went back to Navy Pier to have a walk, had great dinner in the Cantonese cuisine and enjoy the night view of the city.
Places that have been shown in the video
- Belmont Station
- Boystown
- Target
- Beatnix
- Chicago Diner
- Men's Room
- Replay Lakeview
- D.S. Fajita Factory
- The Juicebox
- Shiawase Japanese Restaurant
- Unabridged Bookstore
- Lake Point Tower
- Chicago Children's Museum
- Navy Pier
- Centennial Wheel/Ferris Wheel Navy Pier Chicago
- Aon Grand Ballroom
- NBC Tower
- Chicago Riverwalk
- Millennium Park
- Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- BP Pedestrian Bridge
- MingHin Cuisine
- The Chicago Theatre
- Marina Towers
- Grand Station
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
We have great experiences and amazing time in the city.I hope you enjoy our Journey to Chicago series, If you like this episode, please give it a like and subscribe the channel for more.
Walking Lake Shore Drive, 840 North LSD and Lake Shore Park
Francesca Rose took me on a walking tour of Lake Shore Drive condos and co-ops, from Michigan Avenue east and south to the Chicago River.
In this segment Lucien Lagrange's luxurious beaux arts tower at 840 North LSD is the focus of our attention, along with Lake Shore Park, a newly-built park easily accessible from any point in Streeterville.
Francesca Rose, a real estate agent affiliated with Prudential Rubloff, sponsored this video series. Francesca specializes in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood.
Morning Walk - Lake Michigan & Grant Park / Millennium Park – Chicago Illinois
Grant Park is a large urban park (319 acres or 1.29 km²) in the Loop community area of Chicago. Located in Chicago's central business district, the park's most notable features are Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum Campus. Originally known as Lake Park, and dating from the city's founding, it was renamed in 1901 to honor Ulysses S. Grant. The park's area has been expanded several times through land reclamation, and was the focus of several disputes in the late 1800s and early 1900s over open space use. It is bordered on the north by Randolph Street, on the south by Roosevelt Road and McFetridge Drive, on the west by Michigan Avenue and on the east by Lake Michigan. The park contains performance venues, gardens, art work, sporting, and harbor facilities. It hosts public gatherings, and several large annual events.
The park is often called Chicago's front yard. It is governed by the Chicago Park District.
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, US, and originally intended to celebrate the millennium. It is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central rail yards, and parking lots.[1] The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction.[2]
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design.[3] Millennium Park has free admission,[4] and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park to be the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.[4][5] It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest,[6] and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns.[7] The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. The other four Great Lakes are shared by the U.S. and Canada. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume[1] and the third-largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron (and is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of West Virginia). To the east, its basin is conjoined with that of Lake Huron through the wide Straits of Mackinac, giving it the same surface elevation as its easterly counterpart; the two are technically a single lake.[4] Lake Michigan is shared, from west to east, by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word Michigan originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning great water.[5] Lake Michigan is also the only one of the five Great Lakes not to share a shoreline with the Canadian province of Ontario, the only province in Canada that borders the Great Lakes.
Chicago
Millenium Park Chicago
When Millennium Park opened on July 16, 2004, it transformed an industrial wasteland into Chicago’s showplace for cutting-edge art, architecture, landscape design, music and more. Today, the 24.5-acre park is Chicago’s second-largest tourist attraction – and the City will mark its 10th anniversary throughout the summer. The Millennium Park 10th Anniversary Summer Celebration will feature dozens of FREE events and exhibitions including new, monumental sculptures by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, designer of Crown Fountain; indie rock, electronica, jazz, classical and world music; films, simulcasts and documentaries shown on an outdoor, 40-foot LED screen; family activities; workouts and more.
“Millennium Park is one of Chicago’s most extraordinary venues, and its popularity continues to climb among visitors and residents alike,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City of Chicago. “Last summer, the Park welcomed 4.75 million people, an increase of more than 5 percent. This summer, the Park provides an amazing backdrop for hundreds of FREE cultural programs.”
“Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate has become a new symbol for Chicago around the world,” said Donna LaPietra, chair of the Millennium Park Foundation. “We invite Chicagoans and tourists to experience the stunning art and architecture of the Park this summer—including Cloud Gate (also known as “The Bean”), Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain, Frank Gehry’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion and BP Bridge, Wrigley Square, Lurie Garden and the list goes on and on.”
US Chicago, Millennium Park ANAGLYPH, RED/CYAN, 3D RED/CYAN 3D, 3D ANAGLYPH, Google Earth, 시카고 적청 입체
US Chicago, Millennium Park ANAGLYPH, RED/CYAN, 3D RED/CYAN 3D, 3D ANAGLYPH, Google Earth, 시카고 적청 입체
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and managed by MB Real Estate. The park was originally intended to celebrate the third millennium and is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central's rail yards, and parking lots.[1] The park, which is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and East Monroe Drive, features a variety of public art. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction and by 2017 it had become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. In 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.
Planning of the park began in October 1997. Construction began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004, four years behind schedule. The three-day opening celebrations were attended by some 300,000 people and included an inaugural concert by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. The park has received awards for its accessibility and green design. Millennium Park has free admission, and features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Some observers consider Millennium Park the city's most important project since the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.
It far exceeded its originally proposed budget of $150 million. The final cost of $475 million was borne by Chicago taxpayers and private donors. The city paid $270 million; private donors paid the rest, and assumed roughly half of the financial responsibility for the cost overruns.
The construction delays and cost overruns were attributed to poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism. Many critics have praised the completed park.
In 2017, Millennium Park was the top tourist destination in Chicago and the Midwest, and placed among the top ten in the United States with 25 million annual visitors.