Grant Park is still home to the largest stand of American elm trees anywhere in the country. Over the years, however, the spectacular displays of elms, flowering crab apples, lilacs, and other shade trees declined and began to disappear. This is rapidly changing. Developing a reforestation program with the Chicago Park District is Grant Park's most basic current need. Together with the Chicago Park District, the Conservancy has developed a tree replacement plan for every missing tree in Grant Park. In the 2006-07 planting seasons, over three hundred disease-resistant Dutch elm trees and hackberry trees are being planted in Grant Park as well as over 1500 crab apple and lilac trees at Hutchinson Field. We are also working to have hundreds of more trees planted including the re-landscaping the Court of Presidents - the Lincoln Statue area near Buckingham Fountain.
The Sir Georg Solti Garden
The planned relocation of the bust of Sir Georg Solti from Lincoln Park to Grant Park provides an opportunity to create a high quality cultural and educational botanic garden performance area in Grant Park.By locating the bust created by sculptor Dame Elisabeth Frink, of the acclaimed conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra near Symphony Center, we envision the opportunity to attract visitors with lunchtime concerts in a memorial garden. We have worked with the Chicago Park District to facilitate this move, as well as with Solti’s widow, Lady Valerie Solti, who has expressed interest and believes it appropriately honors her late husband. We are working to raise funds for this garden, and the Chicago Park District has generously supported our efforts by committing $200,000 to a 50/50 match for this Conservancy project.
North Grant Park: Daley Bi-Centennial Plaza, Peanut Park, Green at Grant Park
The area around Daley Bi-Centennial Plaza has become a key gathering place for the thousands of new residents of the adjoining communities.It is also the potential link to the lakefront from Millennium Park and the new Frank Gehry pedestrian bridge.Needs include new signage and lighting at the Lakeshore Drive underpass, sidewalks and streetscape treatment, and a decorative and inviting canopy under Lakeshore Drive to make the lakefront more accessible. The recent addition of the Green at Grant Park (an outdoor café and botanic garden, 18-hole putting green) has positively energized the area.
South Grant Park: a neighborhood park
The south entrance to Grant Park and the Museum Campus is as important as the north entrance, which is enhanced by the restored classical peristyle in Millennium Park.The South entrance should be as dramatic as the north gateway with landscaping, lighting, and improved infrastructure along with development of the south end of the park for neighborhood use to serve the burgeoning South Loop community.
