The Green Space
On October 23rd I went to a green space, and the green space has four important parts, which are Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Maggie Park and Millennium Park. Each part has its own story and characteristic. Let’s talk about the history of Grant Park, the name of the park was come from Ulysses S. Grant, who was a American Civil War commanding General and United States President. Grant Park was one of the oldest park in Chicago, there was a post office, exposition center and other building in the park, but after some civic leader fight for their opinion, which is buildings should not appear in the park, the Grant park become more clean and walkable.
I went to Grant park, and this time I found out some different beauty like this picture I think it is beautiful because this is a quiet rood, and this room is surrounded by plants. If you walk on the rood you will feel comfortable.
I also took this picture in Grant park this is a abandoned water dispenser, and some people just put trash in or around it, which make me feel bad because this is also a part of the park, and if a part of the park is not clean which mean the park is not clean.
Next I want to talk about the Buckingham Fountain. Buckingham Fountain was dedicated on August 26, 1927. The fountain was donated to the city by Kate Sturges Buckingham in memory of her brother whose name is Clarence Buckingham. The Buckingham Fountain represents Michigan Lake, and the four sets of sea horses represent four states in the United States.
I went to Buckingham Fountain today, and this time there is not a lot of people and there is not water in the Buckingham Fountain, but this made me can see the four sets of sea horses more clear, and I can also feel the history of Buckingham Fountain.
On the way to Buckingham Fountain I took this picture, when I took this picture the sun almost went down, and that make the red sky and Michigan Lake connect together that make the picture become very beautiful.
After I went to the Buckingham Fountain I went to Maggie Daley Park. Maggie Daley was the first lady of city who died of cancer in 2011. There are a lot of sports you can do in the Maggie Daley Park, which like tennis, rock climbing, and other sports. One of the reason to build this park is for encouraging people to fight against cancel, and also can make the citizens become more healthy.
When I walking in the park I felt comfortable, and the Maggie Daley Park is very new compare to the Grant park and Buckingham Fountain. You can see some modern facilities in the park, and you don’t have to do sports in the park you can also walk in the park and enjoy the environment and quiet like Grant Park.
After Maggie Daley Park I went to Millennium Park. Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004. The area was previously occupied by parkland, Illinois Central rail yards, and parking lots. The millennium Park was also a part of the Grant Park, but at that time people use it as a garbage dump, people threw trash in the park and make this area very dirty and bad. Because of that government decide to rebuild this area become the Millennium park. The place on the picture is the place I didn’t find out last time. When I walked from Maggie Daley park to Millennium Park I saw a lot of people go toward to this place that make me feel interested and I followed them to this place, which surprised me because it was very beautiful, it’s style, color and structure are very special and attracted.
Then I went to the the Cloud Gate again, and there still a lot of people there. This is always the place which people like to stay, this place has a kind of magic make people want to stay and have fun with their family and friends.
I took another reflection of me, and this time I didn’t have any thoughts. I just thought maybe sometimes walk with yourself can also be a kind of happiness.
finally, I came to the Crown Fountain, and this is also the second time I came to this place. Like the Buckingham Fountain there was also no water there. I don’t know why there was no water for these to beautiful fountains, but I like the fountains that has water. After the Crown Fountain completed, because the surveillance cameras were installed atop the fountain, which led to a public outcry. People thought the surveillance cameras seem out of place of in the Millennium Park. However, people can feel cool and kids like to play in the Crown Fountain, so the Crown Fountain survived.
This walking spent two and a half hours, I was very tired and cold, but I saw a lot of beautiful things and I also notice something that I didn’t notice last time I went to this place. I think after this walking I have a deeper understanding of Chicago and this green space. I am also planing to come again and hope I can find more beautiful things and notice more things that I didn’t notice this time.
I made this map because I want to show that there is a green space surrounded by buildings, and this green space is historic and modern space. You can find a lot of history in the green space, and also some modern builds like Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain. I put some history about these four places include where there names come from and why people and government decide to build it. I am living in downtown Chicago right now and people prefer take public transportation, and drive cars rather than walk, but because the green space which I showed on the map make people choose to walk more in the green space and in downtown Chicago, and in my opinion that is where you live influence how you walk and how you live.
