Ask someone how they feel about the Agora statues at the corner of Roosevelt and Michigan and they will tell you they either hate them or love them (there really is not much middle ground from what we've heard). Regardless, the public space has always been nice and the trees that surround the statues make it a pleasant retreat for the neighborhood. And that's why we were worried when we recently walked by and saw about 75% of the trees gone! Based on the sign we read in the picture above it sounds like Elm trees were infected and had to be removed...but don't worry they're coming back (according to the sign) and will be complete by September 18th.
Looking forward to seeing the new trees! The agora legs need to GO! What an eye sore and a waste of scrap metal. I hate looking at these rusting things every time I look out my condo. Move it to a rest stop down state... Remove the eye sore, plant more trees!
ReplyDeleteI like them!
ReplyDeleteI like looking at them from my condo.(the Agora Legs) They attract a lot of attention from tourist as well!
ReplyDeleteGrant Park (and other parks around the U.S.) has been battling Dutch Elm disease for many years.
ReplyDeleteIf several trees are infected, they must be removed immediately or else the surrounding trees are in danger of being infected. I would suspect that is what's happening here.
A call to the Chicago Park District should shed light on the situation.
I don't mind the legs, but more trees would be nice. I wish Grant Park had more natural beauty and less manicured, corporately sponsored cement space. I wouldn't even consider Millennium Park a park. I'd much rather have a pond and some wild foliage.
ReplyDeleteThe legs are hideous. What a waste of space that could be open park. I don't care if it's suppose to be thought provoking or weird for the sake of weird, those public spaces should be made beautiful to 9 out of 10 people. Not some stupid artist and his group of coffee shop friends. A compromise would be to have art that can be switched out every few months by a vote. These things are bolted down and ruining the concrete. We live on a beautiful lake--lets at least use nature as an influence on our parks.
ReplyDeleteThe elms and the ash trees... so sad to see a huge proportion of our trees fall to disease. It would be really smart for the city to remove the seriously ill ash trees on South State St., before the private ash trees fall victim as well. I have written Fioretti's staff many times warning them of this but nothing happens...
ReplyDeletePlease send them an email to remove and replace the sick ash trees in your neighborhood!