Editing Navy Pier (section)

===Redevelopment===
{{See also| Polk Bros Park}}
[[File:Navy pier current logo.svg|thumb|Navy Pier logo as of 2008]]
Efforts to update Navy Pier for the 21st century began on January 13, 2006, when the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority released a proposal for a major renovation of the pier, which including a monorail, a {{Convert|260|ft|adj=on}} spokeless Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, floating hotel, and a water park with a Great Lakes theme. The plan would have included nearly double the current parking and a replacement theater with a greater capacity. At the time of the announcement, a price tag of $2 billion was announced.

Following the reorganization of the agency that runs Navy Pier and McCormick Place, a new study was commissioned to reinvigorate the upgrade process. The new study, by the Urban Land Institute, was released on November 11, 2010, and recommended a more modest set of enhancements aimed at retaining the pier's role as a public space, rather than turning it into a theme park. Suggested elements include a concert venue, an enlarged [[Chicago Shakespeare Theater]] space, new restaurants, a renovated commercial area around the pier's entrance and additional park-like features to bring people closer to the lake. Possibilities, including the enlarged Ferris wheel and a hotel, are mentioned as more remote possibilities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-1110-focus-pier--20101111,0,4580502.story|title=Second Crack at Navy Pier Upgrade|date=November 11, 2010|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Navy Pier Ferry wheel.jpg|thumb|The iconic Navy Pier wheel, which was retired on September 27, 2015|left]]
In March 2012, a competition led to selection of a design concept presented by a team led by [[James Corner]] of James Corner Field Operations that focuses on the pier's role as a waterfront promenade. In 2013, the Authority announced plans to carry out the first elements of a streamlined version of that concept, with reworked streetscape and a wider pedestrian space, moving tour-boat moorings to improve the view from a new central stairway centered on the Ferris wheel. Work began on the redevelopment plan, called ''The Centennial Vision,'' during the winter of 2013&ndash;2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-navy-pier-kamin-0812-20130812,0,1385316.story|title=Navy Pier Redesign Walks the Line between Populist and Classy|date=August 12, 2013|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/navy-pier-renovation-begins-this-week|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140308020544/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/navy-pier-renovation-begins-this-week|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2014|title=Navy Pier Renovation Begins this Week|date=September 25, 2013|work=[[Time Out Chicago]]}}</ref> The purpose of the plan is to fulfill the mission to keep Navy Pier as a world-class public space and to renovate the pier so it will have more evening and year-round entertainment and more compelling landscape and design features.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navypier.com|title=Navy Pier {{!}} A Chicago Landmark|website=Navy Pier|language=en-US|access-date=April 24, 2016|archive-date=November 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112041607/http://www.navypier.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>   The Polk Family Foundation (founded by [[Sol Polk]]) donated $20 million to the redevelopment effort; the park and fountain at the entrance to the pier was named the [[Polk Bros Park]] and Fountain.<ref>Kori Rumore, Phil Geib, Jemal R. Brinson and Nausheen Husain, [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/plus/ct-graphics-navy-pier-fountain-htmlstory.html "The new fountain at Navy Pier is open"], ''Chicasgo Tribune'', May 26, 2016</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bremer |first=Shelby |date=2017-07-10 |title=Navy Pier Debuts New Waterfront Performance Venues |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/navy-pier-polk-bros-lawns-park-chicago/19411/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523233638/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/navy-pier-polk-bros-lawns-park-chicago/19411/ |archive-date=2022-05-23 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Koziarz |first=Jay |date=2017-07-10 |title=New park, outdoor performance venues open tonight at Navy Pier |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/7/10/15947214/chicago-navy-pier-performance-lawn-polk-bros-park |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324053544/https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/7/10/15947214/chicago-navy-pier-performance-lawn-polk-bros-park |archive-date=2023-03-24 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Curbed Chicago |language=en}}</ref> The park hosts concerts and screens films.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-12 |title=Polk Bros Park |url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/polk-bros-park |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811154405/https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/polk-bros-park |archive-date=2022-08-11 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Time Out Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref>

A new Ferris wheel for the pier was announced on June 23, 2015. It is {{Convert|196|ft|0}} tall, {{Convert|46|ft|0}} taller than its predecessor. Rides now last twelve minutes instead of seven and feature three revolutions. The new wheel has brighter lights and opened in May 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-navy-pier-ferris-wheel-met-20150622-story.html|title=Chicago to replace Navy Pier Ferris wheel with taller one|date=June 23, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref>

''The Centennial Vision''<nowiki/>'s first phase was completed in summer 2016. Work included the redesign of the Pier's public spaces, known as Pierscape, and improvements to the interior of the Family Pavilion and South Arcade. Phase I projects included the transformation of South Dock into a more engaging, greener space, conversion of the South Arcade indoor walkway into a Chicago-themed food experience and creation of a lighted water fountain/ice skating rink in Polk Bros Park. In November 2016, Phase I development achieved Gold certification under the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) rating system, based on its expanded green spaces, improved pedestrian access, energy efficiency, innovative storm water management, and use of recycled local materials.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://navypier.com/history-centennial-vision/|title=History of the Centennial Vision & Redevelopment {{!}} Navy Pier|work=Navy Pier|access-date=August 9, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703185254/https://navypier.com/history-centennial-vision/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Phase II projects include the development of a seven-story, 240-room hotel, adjacent to the south side of Festival Hall; marquee additions to the East End Plaza, including a proposed arched, elevated overlook walkway and reflective water feature; a Welcome Pavilion in the 13-acre Polk Bros Park with 4,000 square feet for guest services and programmatic space; a seasonal ice rink within the footprint of the Polk Bros Park's fountain and plaza; and a short-term, north-side boat docking facility for use by recreational boaters seasonally.<ref name=":0" />