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[music]
[Announcer] Parks and programs, accessible for all to enjoy.
Recreational and fitness opportunities that result
in good health and wellbeing.
Acting as stewards of our precious environment.
And fostering partnerships and alliances
that promote our parks.
[Mike Kelly] Chicago parks are your parks.
I'm General Superintendent and CEO, Mike Kelly.
Welcome to Chicago at Play.
[music]
[Mike Kelly] It gives me great pleasure to welcome you
to this brand new harbor at 31st Street.
As you can see this new development offers stunning
views of the lake and skyline,
and offers numerous recreational opportunities for the community.
[Robert Rejman] It started back in 2005 when we did an overall district-wide
harbor study.
And we looked at the lakefront
from Indiana all the way to Evanston.
We identified up to, I think, 5 locations,
and 3 of which were seen as potential short term options,
and 31st Street was on the top of that list.
[Scott Stevenson] We've been needing a new harbor for a long time.
There's been a demand for slips
and we've not been able to fill it.
[Robert Rejman] What was here before.
It was basic parkland, it was a parking lot, and not much else.
It was kind of a sleepy part of the lakefront.
And what we've done with this harbor is really created a new,
active room.
A new space on the south lakefront to welcome people,
bring activities, provide better access to the lakefront,
and more recreational opportunities.
This location was really exciting to us because one,
there was a lot of community support and interest
for a new harbor at this location.
[Announcer] The new 31st Street Harbor enhances a visit
to the lakefront by offering stunning views
and many amenities designed for the boater,
and for Chicago residents alike.
[Robert Rejman] There are fishing piers at strategic locations.
And there's also a new dropoff at the beach, beach house,
new parking north of the beach for general community use above
and beyond the harbor parking.
And then also we were able to do an underpass
for the lakefront trail.
It takes bikers and pedestrians
and everyone using this heavily used lakefront trail
and puts it underneath the roadway.
[Scott Stevenson] On the public side, we have the coolest playground
in the city of Chicago.
It's got a climbing wall, it's got water features,
it's got water jets coming out of the rocks, a misting station.
Absolutely cool.
[music]
[Robert Rejman] Situated on a rise leading to a green roof on top
of the parking garage, that is all completely 100% green roof.
It's situated right next to the beach,
which was stabilized again as part of the shoreline project.
We have a new acre of parkland out on the pier
that didn't used to be there.
[Scott Stevenson] We actually use the lake water temperature to help heat
and cool this big building.
You'll will be able to store boats as big as many of these,
inside that building in the winter.
And people can come here, kind of one stop shopping
for their boating activities.
[Announcer] Boaters and families are already beating the summer heat
at the new harbor.
[Scott Stevenson] The public is embracing this.
There must be a network of moms with kids out there,
because there are just hundreds and hundreds of families
that have discovered this place,
and decided to make it their place.
[Robert Rejman] These kinds of projects are really important
to the Park District.
One because they provide better access to the lakefront,
they serve all kinds of people throughout the city.
Every age group, people of all interests.
It provides better access to Lake Michigan
and boating opportunities well, which is part of our mission.
And then the harbors bring in $30 million annually in revenue
that help keep parks and park programs throughout the city.
It's a major source of income for us
and I think the boaters are proud of giving back in that way
to parks throughout the city.
[Announcer] All of this, and not one taxpayer dollar was spent.
[Scott Stevenson] It's paid for with alternate revenue bonds,
issued by the Chicago Park District.
And those revenue bonds use boater money
from the boater fees that are paid,
to pay interest on the debt service.
And instead of having to go to the tax payers
for the cool public improvements here like the playground,
this beautiful rooftop, and the point park out there,
those are all paid for from these boater fees.
[Announcer] If you are interested in parking your boat in one
of the new 1,000 slips at 31st Street Harbor,
visit the Westrec Marinas website
at www.chicagoharbors.info Or feel free to just come
and enjoy the lakefront!
[Scott Stevenson] We have no doubt that we will fill this harbor completely
in the next few years.
It'll be an economic engine
for the Chicago Park District for years to come.
[music]