Chicago Riverwalk
The main Branch of the Chicago River has a long and storied history that in many ways mirrors the development of Chicago itself. Once a meandering marshy stream, the river first became an engineered channel to support the industrial transformation of the city. Over the last decade, the role of the river has been evolving with the Chicago riverwalk project: an initiative to reclaim the Chicago river for the ecological, recreational and economic benefit of the city.
The goal of embracing the river as a recreational amenity seemed impossible years ago given the river’s high level of pollution. But today that vision is becoming reality. Recent improvements in river water quality and the increased intensity of public recreational use signal growing life along the river, demanding new connections to the water’s edge.
Before the project was build, this aria didn’t get people’s attention. Now more and more this part of the city is being noticed. Architects wanted to create a path like a independent system “one that, through changes in its shape and form, would drive a series of ne programmatic connections to the river. With new connections that enrich and diversify life along the river, each block takes on the form and program of a different virver-based typology.
These spaces include:
-the Marina Plaza: Restaurant and outdoor seating provide views of vibrant life on the water, including passing barges, patrols, sightseeing boats. This has made the river more accessible by the people.
-the cove: Kayak rentals and dockings for human-powered crafts provide physical connections to water through recreation.
-the water Plaza: A water feature offers an opportunity for children and families to engage with water at the river’s edge
-the river Theater: A sculptural staircase linking Upper Wacker and the Riverwalk offers pedestrian connectivity to the water’s edge seating, while trees provide greenery and shade.
-the Jetty: A series of piers and floating wetland gardens offers an interactive learning environment about the ecology of the river, including opportunities for fishing and identifying native plants.
-the Broadwalk: An accessible walkway and new marine edge creates continuous access to Lake Street and sets the scene for future development in this critical space at the confluence.
As a conclusion what I really appreciate the most, is the initiative and the work done for the radical change of this area into a recreative one, despite the two main problems that it has gone through, such as: high levels of water pollution and its annual flood dynamics. Nowadays, as i mentioned it before, this recreative site gives you a wide range of choices and alternatives for each group age ,where each one of them can find themselves, starting from the adventurous ones who can go kayaking or renting boats and making river tour, the others that need relax can choose floating gardens, fishing activities, others can enjoy late nights with live music sessions and other can choose the educational program and learn about river ecology. The river itself has its own history that is tied directly to the development of Chicago and this riverwalk even for its design and for the functions and activities, I think that has improved, developed and also has given again the deserved importance of the river and site. Another interesting thing is that every block have something new to offer, not only by the functions but by the design. In one moment you are walking aside the river, and in another one you are walking on it.
Architects:
Chicago Department of Transportation, Ross Barney Architects, Sasaki Associates, Jacobs Ryan Associates, Alfred Benesch & Company.
Reference:
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