Lynn Becker’s September 14 article on the debate over Grant Park as a site for the relocated Chicago Children’s Museum [“Forever Open, Clear, and Free”] is a compelling exposition of why the museum’s proposal to relocate into the northeast corner of the park is flawed and inappropriate.
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Many other parks in large American cities, such as Central Park in New York or Forest Park in St. Louis, have reduced or even removed roadways in favor of pedestrian and bicycle use. Unfortunately, the roadways dividing up Grant Park have proved immune to any form of redesign or even removal. Instead, city government seems committed to enhancing the use of these roadways as traffic arteries rather than enhancing the use of the park as a green, pedestrian-oriented space. Even Millennium Park, whatever its other virtues, exacerbated thepark’s division by bridging Colum-bus rather than narrowing it.
Grant Park’s sadly divided state was addressed by the 2002 Grant Park Framework plan, which advocated narrowing or even closing roadways like Columbus Drive. It is not too late to revisit this plan and create a green, open, pedestrian Grant Park rather than one filled with institutions, parking lots, and roadways. Rejecting the Children’s Museum proposal would be a good place to start.
A Cynic’s Take on Grant Park
Dennis McClendon
E. Chicago Ave.
ParkShore Condo Association
