Why Save Daley Bicentennial Plaza?

Daley Bicentennial Plaza is the heart of neighborhood and family living for thousands of residents of downtown Chicago. It's also a place of rest and recreation for those who work in nearby offices. Visitors who come to see popular downtown tourist attractions may take a quiet break at this friendly field house and playlot.

You can find Daley Bicentennial Plaza in the Northeast corner of Grant Park at 337 E. Randolph Street. It's inconspicuous. From Randolph Street, you might not even notice that it is there - the fieldhouse is below street level. You might spot the play area, especially on a summer afternoon, when it is filled with neighborhood children and their parents. Or the busy tennis courts. In the winter, the ice rink, bustling with life, would surely catch your eye.

The fieldhouse is more than a place to get in from the cold or the rain. It's home to fitness classes, neighborhood meetings, and much-needed park district programs including a summer day camp for school age children. It's a daily meeting place for those who choose to make the heart of the city a home and not just a stop on the way to life in the suburbs.

This important neighborhood institution is at risk of being overtaken by a tourist attraction. Please return in the days to come and learn what's threatening Daley Bicentennial Plaza and how you can help to preserve it.