Tag Archives: millennium park

Chicago using new technology to count Millennium Park visits

CHICAGO (AP) — The city of Chicago is using new technology to count visitors to Millennium Park and its numbers show 12.9 million visited the lakefront park in the second half of last year.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office on Thursday said that the city now measures Millennium Park attendance using a third-party vendor that has passive electronic sensors. The city ran a pilot project with the technology, measuring visitors to the area of the park around the Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as “The Bean,” and three main entrances from June 15 through Dec. 31. That count estimated 12.9 million people over the six months. The area counted covers about half of the 24.5-acre park.

The city says previous estimates found 5 million annual visitors to the park.

 

 

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Millennium Ice Skating Rink & Maggie Daley Ice Ribbon to Open

By Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) Warm weather has postponed the opening of the Maggie Daley ice ribbon this season, though it is slated to begin operations next week when the weather temperatures drop.

The ice rink at Millennium Park opens Friday at noon, which is hours before the 6 p.m. lighting ceremony for Chicago’s official Christmas tree in which is also in the park. Chicago’s official Christmas tree was moved last year from Daley Plaza to its new home in Millennium Park.

The first day of skating on the ice ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is planned to open exactly one week later on Nov. 25. along with the remaining outdoor locations throughout the city. Those locations include:

    • McKinley Ice Rink
    • Midway Ice Rink
    • Mt. Greenwood Ice Rink
    • Riis Ice Rink
    • Rowan Ice Rink
    • Warren Ice Rink
    • Wentworth Ice Rink

 

Below are the hours of operation for both the Maggie Daley and Millennium Park locations.

 

Ice Skating Hours

Hours:

      • Monday – Thursday: noon – 8:00 pm
      • Friday: noon – 10:00 pm
      • Saturday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
      • Sunday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Holiday Hours:

      • Thanksgiving, November 24, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
      • Friday, November 25, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
      • Christmas Eve, December 24, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
      • Christmas Day, December 25, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
      • New Year’s Eve, December 31, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
      • New Year’s Day, January 1, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
      • MLK Day, January 16, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
      • School Improvement Day, February 3, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
      • President’s Day, February 20, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

During the holiday break 12/24 – 1/8, the Skating Ribbon will be open from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm, with the dates above as exceptions.

 

Bond Denied for Suspect in Millenium Park Area Shooting

By Jennifer Keiper, WLS-AM 890 News

(CHICAGO) Bond has been denied for a reputed gang member accused of killing a Berwyn man, near Millennium Park, over the weekend.

Cook County prosecutors say Paul Pagan was riding his bike with his girlfriend and her five children, last Saturday night, when he decided to get involved in an argument that was in-progress between 54-year old Peter Fabbri and a group handing out religious pamphlets.

Pagan is accused of shooting Fabbri in the stomach and then, in the head, at point-blank range.

Pagan, of the 500 block of West 45th Street in Chicago, has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless conduct, pot possession and possession of a stolen vehicle.

In denying bond, Judge James Brown said Pagan “presents a great danger to the community.”

© WLS-AM 890 News