If it's at all possible, the Chicago Tribune editorial board again stepped up their efforts to opposing the Children's Museum move to Grant Park with this strongly worded article today...

"Will a commission formed in 1909 to demand good planning recommend approval in 2008 of a project that reflects virtually no planning whatsoever?"

The Grant Park land grab

Eric Frost

Crain's Chicago writes that Reilly will make a decision next week about whether to present the Children's Museum's plan to take over Grant Park. He is quoted --

“This has been a tough one,” he said. “One the one hand, I have a responsibility to my constituents, and on the other, Grant Park is the city’s front yard. What benefits (Grant Park) benefits all of the city.”

We should add that it is up to debate about whether the proposed relocation offers any benefits to...

Eric Frost

From the Chicago Tribune - "Aside from protecting the park, this project raises questions of safety and quality of life. This area of the city already is teeming with pedestrian and vehicle traffic, with much more to come via residential buildings planned. The museum site would add hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, descending on a three-tiered section of Randolph Street that can be difficult to navigate. Downtown Chicago, already so gridlocked and stressed that a proposed fee for driving...

Eric Frost

The architectural critic of the Chicago Tribune wrote an article that was published yesterday on why the Children's Museum should not be located in Daley Bicentenniel Plaza.

Regarding the Plaza itself the critic writes: "Though Daley Bicentennial is not without merit -- its rigidly symmetrical layout does frame views of Buckingham Fountain, and residents of nearby high-rises prize its quiet ambience as an antidote to Millennium Park's throngs -- its design is as outdated and outmoded...

Eric Frost

Mehta Brown writes on the Friends of Daley Bi blog on three ways to save the Daley Bi park from the Children's Museum's attempts to relocate there.

Three Easy Ways to Save the Park

"1) Call Mayor Daley's office at (312) 744-3300, let him know where you live, and tell him that you are opposed to museum construction Daley Bicentennial Plaza.

2) Email Arnold Randall, Chicago's new Commissioner of Planning and Development, arandall@cityofchicago.org , let...

Eric Frost