This Pedestrian Bridge Is Brought To You By

Civic leaders in Chicago are forming a private-public partnership to finance part of the estimated $15 million needed to replace a pedestrian link between Grant Park and the lakeshore by selling corporate naming rights.

Bob O'Neill, president of the Grant Park Advisory Council, explains: "This is an easy project to attract private dollars because with millions of people in cars on Lake Shore Drive, on foot and on bikes, it would be the most visible corporate sponsorship in the park area.

Unfortunately, city transportation planning lags behind community efforts to fundraise. Transportation spokesman Brian Steele says the feasibility study is still in the conceptual phase: "Our engineers are taking a look at the available space and concerns related to construction, sight lines and access points with respect to building either a pedestrian underpass or a bridge. But we have not drilled down to the details yet."

Chicago has secured funding for other pedestrian projects that have higher priority than the Queen's Landing crossing. However, corporate sponsorships of public projects in nearby Millennium and Grant Parks give civic leaders hope that creative financing at Queen's Landing could place the project on the fast track.