Restaurant to open in Maggie Daley Park

Scaling the rock-climbing features, speeding around the ice-skating ribbon and strolling through the soon-to-open Maggie Daley Park would make anyone hungry.

So the Chicago Park District has decided a restaurant and food kiosk should go up in the downtown park, which remains under construction.

The park district is seeking bids for a firm that can design, build and open a "high quality" restaurant, run a concession stand in a picnic area and handle catering special events in the new park.

Before that stretch at the north end of Grant Park was torn up to repair the roof of a subterranean parking garage, it was known as Daley Bicentennial Plaza and home to The Green at Grant Park, a seasonal alfresco cafe with a miniature golf course.

The renovation, estimated at $55 million when the project began construction in 2012, will feature an ice-skating ribbon, climbing wall, play garden, field house and picnic groves surrounded by lush landscaping. The park is being paid for with a combination of public and private funding.

Work on what will be the 28-acre Maggie Daley Park named for Chicago's one-time first lady, who died in 2011 is projected to be completed this winter with additional plantings in the spring.

Across the street at Millennium Park is the Park Grill. The city is trying to break the lease with the clout-heavy restaurant operator, which made the concession deal with the park district, according to the Chicago Tribune. Under the controversial deal, the restaurant pays about $250,000 annually in rent based on a percentage of sales but not for water, gas, garbage pickup or property taxes.

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Restaurant to open in Maggie Daley Park