Millennium Park was partially closed again for a private event–but this time keeping the “Bean” open for as long as possible Monday seemed to mollify grumpy visitors.
“We did get to see the Bean, but we didn’t get the pretty scene,” said Jorge Romero, 52, of Lakeview, who had hoped to properly show the latest downtown attraction to his cousins visiting from Florida.
Instead, giant white and blue tents dominated the view on the eastern surface of “Cloud Gate,” otherwise known to Chicagoans as the Bean.
The tents were being put up for a private party hosted by Allstate Insurance Co. for 1,200 of its agents and their spouses Monday evening. The Northbrook-based company paid $700,000 to have private access to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, BP Bridge, Lurie Garden and Chase Promenades for its reception.
Monday’s event was the third time the park has been closed to the public since it opened two years ago.
The first closing was in 2004, soon after the park opened, for the Donors Opening Gala, a $1,000-a-plate dinner event for corporations and philanthropists who would eventually cover $240 million of the park’s more than $490 million price tag.
In September, Toyota paid $800,000 to rent out most of the park, generating numerous complaints from tourists and Chicagoans who were blocked from seeing the Bean.
Park officials said private funds raised by renting out the park would help pay for free concerts throughout the year. The Toyota closure last year also let the car company’s rivals, including General Motors, to win some free publicity: They offered free rides and free admission to other Chicago attractions that day.
On Monday, there were no rival insurance companies on the scene.
Park officials said they also had learned a thing or two from the last experience. Millennium Park staff handed out coupon books for discounts at other Chicago sites such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier.
Since late last week, officials had posted signs announcing the closing at three city parking garages near the park. They also kept the Bean sculpture open to tourists until 4 p.m., an hour before the private party was scheduled to begin.
“That was one of the things we saw last year as an issue,” Millennium Park spokeswoman Karen Ryan said. “So we worked on making it better.”
Still, Rita David Grewe, 61, of suburban Detroit, bemoaned the fact that she was unable to see the Lurie Gardens.
“It’s kind of disappointing,” she said.
