Millennium Park is a world class urban area known for its superbly designed concert pavilion and its many outdoor performances and exhibitions. The visionary concert venue is complimented by a modern take on the town square, welcoming visitors with interesting sculptures and fountains, fusing technology with art in unique and entertaining ways. Surrounded by advanced landscape design the park always makes for an enjoyable and leisurely stroll.
Two inviting plazas or squares greet visitors as they enter the park from Michigan Avenue. The huge, 110 ton Cloud Gate is a beautiful reflection of the city – literally, as the seamless and highly polished stainless steel sculpture reflects the sky, the city and admirers themselves as they walk under it and pass by it. This is one piece of art that should not be missed as it has become a famous Chicago symbol since the park opened in 2004. At the centre of the other square is a reflecting pool set off at each end by the two amazingly designed Crown Fountains – huge fifty foot high glass towers that project facial images of Chicago’s diverse population while a cleverly placed water spout sprays water from the mouths of each image.
Millennium Park’s outdoor concert pavilion, a beautifully designed venue offering many free concerts throughout the summer can accommodate up to 4,000 people on fixed seating and a further 7,000 on “The Great Lawn”. Even with its size the pavilion is intimate and inviting and its state of the art sound system enhances the enjoyment of any performance. A flowing stainless steel frame described as ribbons covers the stage, connecting to a steel pipe trellis creating an intricate overhead design above the seating area.
Millennium Park is easily accessible from any point in the city. Buses drop off on Michigan Avenue at Randolph, Washington, or Madison Streets and taxis are always plentiful and are simply hailed when needed. As the park is just east of the Loop, the Orange, Brown, Green and Purple “L” lines serve the Randolph/Wabash and Madison/Wabash stops just blocks away. The Red line can also be taken to the underground Washington or Monroe stops within the Loop.
