MONROE HARBOR MARINA PLAN "ON HOLD!"

With the help of Friends of Monroe Harbor, Landmark Preservation Council of Illinois, and many citizen-activists, Friends of the Parks worked to preserve the open water vista the blue centerpiece of Grant Park. HOORAY! A proposal to construct a 1500 pier with permanent docks for 900 mooring spaces was put on hold by the Chicago Park District. Park District representatives have stated that there will be no new marina construction at Monroe Harbor at this time.

Instead, with 2004 Capital Improvement Budget funding, the Park District will conduct a district-wide harbor planning project. Friends of the Parks supports this effort to locate additional mooring space opportunities which are compatible with the surrounding lakefront parkland, rather than imposing a marina in Chicagos treasured lakefront parks.

During this planning process, FOTP will advocate for wholistic planning for Chicagos ten harbors.

Monroe Harbor Marina Proposal would Distrupt Historic Grant Park Symmetry The Chicago Park District announced plans for the re-construction of Monroe Harbor with a new 1500' pier and permanent docks for 900 new boating slips. (700 mooring cans would remain on the south side of the new pier). CPD representatives stated that the Monroe Harbor Renovation Project is expected to cost between $27 - $30 million and would be financed by Harbor Facilities Revenue Bonds. Friends of the Parks does not support the proposed Monroe Harbor Renovation Project. Burnham Plan of 1909 Grant Park is the city's front yard. This park was planned by Daniel Burnham in 1909 in a formal symmetrical pattern with the harbor balanced between two peninsulas: Navy Pier and Solidarity Drive. Past Chicago Park District administrations have been careful to preserve this open harbor symmetry that was a key and sustaining element of Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago, as well as the 1972 Lakefront Plan of Chicago. The 1909 Burnham Plan prescribes: "Slopes leading down to the water should be quiet stretches of green, unvexed by the small irregular piers and the various kinds of projects which today give it an untidy appearance." The proposed Monroe Harbor Renovation Project includes construction of a new pier which breaks the symmetry of Grant Park's Monroe Harbor. The new pier, east of Adams Street, which extends 1500' into Lake Michigan encloses nearly 1/3 of the central harbor. The 900 new constructed slips are densely sited to the north of the 1500' new pier. The lay-out resembles a boat parking lot, more appropriate for a private marina in Florida or California Grant Park Framework Plan The Monroe Harbor Renovation proposal violates the recently completed Grant Park Framework Plan, which states: "Maintain the essential historic character and recreational/boating capacities of Monroe Harbor, unencumbered by additional piers or other barriers. Alterations to the harbor or breakwater should be consistent with the overall character of the Grant Park Framework Plan." The Monroe Harbor Renovation Plan with 900 new constructed boating slips would increase the density of Monroe Harbor by 60%, adding congestion to an area that cannot, and should not, sustain the additional necessary drop-off and support facilities for 1600 boats. Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance The proposed Monroe Harbor Renovation Plan further violates Policy #5 of the Lakefront Protection Ordinance which states: "Maintain and improve the formal character and open water vista of Grant Park with no new above-ground structures permitted." While no above ground structure is proposed, the Monroe Harbor Renovation Plan, including new permanent dock structures for 900 boats perpendicularly arranged on the pier which extends 1500' into the harbor, will destroy both the formal character and open water vista of Grant Park.