1998-2004
Millennium Park transformation (Chicago, 2004)
Chicago set out in 1998 to build a park with a music pavilion over rail yards and parking garages at the northeast corner of Grant Park. The project ballooned into a 24.5-acre public space featuring the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Cloud Gate sculpture, known as the Bean, drawing millions of visitors in its first year.
Then
It opened in July 2004 after years of delays and substantial cost overruns, with much of the bill covered by private donors.
Now
It became one of the most visited public spaces in the country and a reference point for cities seeking destination parks downtown.
Why this matters now
Like the Belvedere, it shows that rebuilding a public plaza atop infrastructure can produce a major draw, but often arrives late and over budget.