The Chicago Riverwalk is officially open for the summer season—all 1.25 miles leading to the lakefront. Last summer, the mayor began improvements on Riverwalk East, between Michigan Avenue and Lakeshore Drive, and now that section is open.

Before the work began, the eastern section was aged and essentially just a sidewalk. Now, there are areas for kids to play, three public bathrooms, 150 new trees, 94 new streetlights, and lots of places to sit. The design team was led by Mueller and Mueller and Site Design Group worked on the landscape architecture.

The $12 million Riverwalk transformation first began in 2011 when the city wanted to create a new pedestrian path. Architecture firms Sasaki Associates, Ross Barney Architects, Benesch and Jacobs Ryan Landscape Architects worked to completely transform the riverside blocks between Lake and State street. In 2016, the award-winning Riverwalk fully opened and since then it’s grown. Vendors like City Winery and Tiny Tapp have come in, the Park District started a kids fishing program, and digital projects turned the Mart into public art.

The latest improvements will bring in a massive art installation by Chicago-based artist Iñigo Manglano Ovalle and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill engineer Bill Baker. A city committee selected Weather Station, a 117-foot group of seven stainless steel poles topped with spinning wind vanes and anemometers. Chicagoans will be able to view the sculpture when it’s completed in fall 2020. If you’re curious what it might actually look like, the artist has a similar project from 2013 in Tongva Park in Los Angeles.

In addition, there will be five colorful panels created by artist Ebony Patterson that will sit above the Chicago First Lady ticket booths. She’s known for large-scale, textured murals created out of lace, glitter, and beads. New art on the west end includes an installation by sculptor Robert Burnier which features geometric structures of steel, nylon mesh, and rope.

Arriving soon on June 1st, the newest end of the Riverwalk will have a marketplace between Michigan and Wabash avenues. There will be nine new vendors, all of which are local. New businesses include:

Lakeview’s Beat Kitchen which will serve tacos, pizzas, salads, and vegan options

Lincoln Park’s wildly popular Batter and Berries breakfast spot

Nepalese cafe Chiya Chia, which started in Logan Square

Gordo’s Homemade Ice Cream which runs shops in South Loop and Edgewater

Justice of the Pies, a vendor at Chicago’s city farmers markets, and will serve quiches and pies

Luxury Cake, based in Pilsen, will have an outpost for its desserts

West Town’s Neighborly will sell art and wares from local crafters

Twisted Eggroll, a catering service based in West Town

Shop Small will be a place for a rotating series of featured artists

All week long the city will be celebrating the Riverwalk’s opening season and latest improvements. There are free walking tours, fireworks, and new digital projections for Art on the Mart.