A MerIcA's B Ac KyA rD Chicago's North Grant Park A concrete Plaza Goes Green CHICAGO'S NORTH GRANT PARK, currently known as Daley Bicentennial Plaza, will be transformed in late 2012 from a mostly concrete plaza into a meandering green space. Tennis courts will be torn out and a new skate park and scooter plaza placed so as to maximize the green in the park center. The revamped park's planned design also features an ice skating loop 64 Parks & Recreation D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 w w w . N R P A . O R G surrounding a climbing wall, a play garden, and gentle slopes with views of Lake Michigan. The park district has $35 million earmarked for the rebuilding project-and has hired New York-based Michael Van Valkenburg Associates landscape architecture fi rm to re-create the popular plaza. w w w. a m E R I c a s b ac k ya R d . O R g