What’s ahead for New Eastside in 2017

For tourists, Chicago’s New Eastside is a world-class destination filled with exquisite parks, unique entertainment and stunning architecture. But for the community of urban pioneers who live in this riverside hamlet, it is home. We went behind the scenes of the neighborhood’s most renowned global attractions to see what’s on tap for locals (and smart tourists) in 2017.

Maggie Daley Park

Weather permitting, the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park will remain open until early March. But it’s just one of many things to do in the 20-acre public recreation area.

“We have a variety of fitness classes for all ages and abilities,” says Supervisor Jackie Guthrie. “For the babies six months and up, we have ‘Moms, Pops & Tots Interaction.’ We have early childhood classes from Kiddie College, which is our preschool, and we have adult classes.”

Beginning January 9, the park’s Winter Session will offer dance, Zumba, three different types of yoga and several oth- er classes for multiple age groups. The Spring Session in March will debut a new “pounds” class emphasizing workouts with handheld weight sticks.

Guthrie suggests that interested participants move quickly. “We had a great turnout for registration,” she says. “Some classes are at capacity already.”

When the weather warms up, the park will host a series of ever-popular out- door events. The Mother’s Day Fashion Show features three-to-five year-olds strutting a runway in their own signature styles. July’s Backyard Bash will be a throwback to “those annual picnics that you always had when you were a kid,” says Guthrie. Last year’s event included a horseshoe toss, live music and corn on the cob. The Valentine’s Dance, Egg Hunt and July 4th rock-climbing competition are among other favorites returning in 2017.

Construction of the Maggie Daley Park Restaurant is “supposed to start in the spring,” says Bob O’Neill, President of the Grant Park Conservancy (GPC). When completed, the $62.5 million, 8,000-square-foot facility at 352 E. Monroe St. will offer public restrooms, an outdoor patio and a “green roof” formed by the existing park lawn. The eatery’s proprietor, Four Corners Tavern Group, hopes to begin serving patrons by the end of the year.

Outdoor lovers who prefer to eat and drink on the go can already order from the park’s newest concessionaire, Buck’s Café, a stand at the southern end of the Skating Ribbon.

Owned and operated by Bill Prahofer, who also runs Buck’s Four Star Grill
at Buckingham Fountain, Buck’s Café opened on Black Friday 2016 with a menu that includes Chicago-style dogs and deluxe hot chocolate.

“We top it with chocolate drizzle, whipped cream and marshmallows,” Prahofer says. “It’s kid-friendly.”

Chicago Riverwalk

After attracting 330,000 visitors and generating $8.5 million in revenue over the extended 2016 season, all of the Chicago Riverwalk vendors (except Dulce in Horto) have already confirmed their intentions to return in 2017. Offering food, drink, music and bike and kayak rentals, the vendors have obviously tapped into a market that Chicagoans enjoy.

Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park (Patton).

The good times will be enhanced by the third and final phase of the Riverwalk project: the expansion from State Street to Lake Street that was completed last October. It adds three uniquely functional areas to the promenade.

The Water Plaza between LaSalle and Wells allows visitors to explore the very edge of the riverbank. The Jetty between Wells and Franklin features piers that extend over the river. Finally, the Riverbank at Franklin and the bend features an expansive lawn and con- nects Upper and Lower Wacker Drive.

“We had a great year,” says Michelle Woods, the city’s assistant project director, who has worked on the Riverwalk since it was an idea of the Daley administration and helped launch this year’s extended season.

“Island Party Hut ended up selling 150 Christmas trees in December.”

Grant Park

“There will be a lot of temporary outdoor sculpture in Grant Park,” says GPC’s Bob O’Neill. “We have a new committee on that.”

The open-air gallery started with a giant “Buddha Head” that was installed near the skate park in October. It will expand with guidance from Sarah Rose Warman, GPC marketing director and artist in her own right who was appointed to lead the committee in 2016.

The proposed Grant Park Green Fitness Space will also kick into high gear next year. Design concepts for the location, which got the green light in mid-2016, “went over really well” during a December GPC meeting, says O’Neill.

“Our hope for 2017 is to get the money raised,” he explains.

It seems likely that the community-minded wellness area will have little trouble raising an estimated $3 million to complete the project. “Reebok expressed interest and we just talked to them,” says O’Neill. “PlayPower is helping us a lot. They are the largest manufacturer of outdoor workout equipment. They worked with us on design.”

The McCormick Bridgehouse & Museum

The McCormick Bridgehouse & Museum in the southwest corner of the DuSable Bridge (at Michigan Avenue) kicks off for the season on the city’s annual “Chicago River Day,” May 13.

“It’s our annual volunteer cleanup effort with our 2,500 volunteers covering the 156-mile Chicago River system,” says Joanne Dill, director of strategic initiatives at Friends of the Chicago River. “Sites are all over the re- gion. There are even a few downtown, including the Bridgehouse Museum. It’s a great volunteer opportunity.”

When the cleanup is done, it’s time for the fun. The Bridgehouse’s speaker series on the riverbank runs from July through August and covers “everything about the river,” says Dill. “Bridges, aquatic species, water quality, ‘swimmability,’ you name it.” The June Summer Cruise up the river and the August Asian Carp Cookout are scheduled for encores in 2017, as well. And September and October will again feature BYOB Brew & View events that include free admission and museum tours.

— Daniel Patton, Staff Writer