Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Downtown
I suppose no one would object to a playground for cute little kids, but young families are very seldom the market for these buildings. The empty-nesters who dominate the highrises fronting Grant Park are working hard to prevent a small installation of "fitness equipment" in the park because—after all—everyone already belongs to a gym or has a workout room in their condo building. They don't like the skate park, and want Lollapalooza, the Chicago Marathon, and all the fun runs gone from Grant Park.
In other words, they don't want a park. They want a lawn to look down at. And you kids better keep off of it!
|
Well, yeah... this is pretty disgusting. Currently the park is designed around massive regional events. I sometimes enjoy those events but recognize that their staging poses huge headaches to everyday people who live/work in the area.
Setting aside the issue of what to do with those events, I would support a redesign of the park that encouraged strolling as well as passive and active recreation... but it seems these folks want neither. All they want is, yes, a lawn to look at (and drive through at high speed).
Maggie Daley Park is at least a step in the right direction.