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Grant Park – Chicago’s Front Yard

Grant Park has gone through several major transformations since its initial conception in the mid-19th century. Originally, the site was key to connecting the Illinois Pacific rail yard to the boat docks. Today, it is considered one of Chicago’s major cultural attractions, and includes Buckingham Fountain, Petrillo Music Shell, the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and Maggie Daley Park. The park also hosts large events (such as the Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza) and special civic events, most of which are coordinated with the City of Chicago. In terms of transportation, Grant Park has gone through transformations as well. On the north end, Millennium Park has several unique transportation features below ground (parking garages and a commuter rail station) and above ground (an indoor bicycle station). On the south end, the Lakefront Busway serves Solider Field and McCormick Place and the multi-use paths within Grant Park connect pedestrians and bicyclists to the Lakefront Trail and the Museum Campus area. CDOT has been involved in a number of large infrastructure projects in the Grant Park area, including rerouting Lake Shore Drive to remove the infamous S curve on the north end and create a Museum Campus on the south end, Millennium Park (which was previously rail tracks and parking lots), and the Lakefront Busway. We will explore Grant Park’s transportation history and illustrate how the city coordinates special event transportation in Grant Park.

Mode: Walking