Grant Park- Chicago, IL
Many visitors and residents enjoy the hustle and bustle in Chicago. There are many Chicago attractions such as shopping, shows, and museums that thoroughly entertain.
However, if you are looking for a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle for awhile and enjoy a natural attraction in Chicago, head over to Grant Park.
Grant Park was established in 1911. This family attraction in Chicago did not come about easily or in a traditional manner.
Instead, Grant Park is a result of the destruction of the Great Fire of 1871.
When crews were cleaning the debris from the fire, they pushed the remains into Lake Michigan.
The intent of this action was to create a Chicago attraction that would be a family friendly park.
However, in the late 1800’s, the city decided to take this family attraction in Chicago in another direction. Plans were made to create a commercial zone that would include buildings large in scale.
Montgomery Ward, who was a private citizen in Chicago at the time, fought the city to bring the plans for this Chicago attraction back to their original state.
So, in 1911, Ward won his fight and Grant Park was established as a natural open area that would be both a family attraction as well as a Chicago attraction for visitors.
Grant Park is located between Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan. This area makes Grant Park one of Chicago’s premier attractions.
When you visit Grant Park, you will notice that there are still railroad tracks on the grounds. Rather than removing the railroad tracks from this Chicago attraction, developers decided to incorporate them into their master plan.
Now, you will find a series of bridges crossing over the railroad tracks in Grant Park. Once you have crossed the bridges, you will find the open spaces that Montgomery Ward wanted for the Chicago attraction.
On the grounds of Grant Park, you will see people enjoying many activities. Some enjoy admiring the statues in Grant Park such as that of Abraham Lincoln. Others enjoy exercising Grant Park, so there are many people running, riding bikes, and walking with strollers.
One of the most visited sections of Grant Park is the Clarence Buckingham Fountain. In Chicago, Illinois, many people go to Grant Park for the sole purpose of enjoying the fountain.
The Clarence Buckingham Fountain was donated to the park by Kate Buckingham in 1927. Buckingham wanted to honor Clarence Buckingham who was her brother.
Those who visit the fountain at this attraction in Chicago may notice a striking resemblance to the fount at the Palace of Versailles near Paris. However, this Chicago attraction in Grant Park brings a modern perspective to the fountain in the evenings with colored spotlights.
The most recent improvement to Grant Park occurred in 2001. The city elected to expand this popular Chicago attraction by adding Millennium Park.
Millennium Park has its routes in the railroad industry as does the rest of the park. This section of Grant Park was used previously as a rail yard. The rail yard adjacent to Grant Park had fallen into severe disrepair.
The renovation of the rail yard to Millennium Park not only gave visitors more beautiful natural areas to explore, it also greatly increased the aesthetic appeal for the neighbors of Grant Park.
While in Millennium Park, visitors enjoy ice skating and plays in the underground skating rink and theater. There is also an amphitheater above ground for additional plays in nice weather. To reach Millennium Park, take the footbridge from Grant Park.
In closing, Grant Park is an exciting Chicago attraction families and singles are sure to love. Make plans to visit Grant Park when you are planning your itinerary of Chicago attractions to enjoy.
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Grant Park- Chicago, IL - (Mar 14, 2007)
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