IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 559 

Recognizing Navy Pier as a public community resource and treasured Chicago 

landmark. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 5, 2017 

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. RUSH, 

Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. 

GUTIE ́RREZ, Mr. BOST, and Mr. LIPINSKI) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing Navy Pier as a public community resource and 

treasured Chicago landmark. 

Whereas, after 100 years of significant impact, Navy Pier 

has been reimagined and has adopted the following new 

mission: ‘‘Navy Pier is the People’s Pier, Chicago’s lakefront treasure, welcoming all and offering dynamic and 

eclectic experiences through partnerships and programs 

that inspire discovery and wonder.’’; 

Whereas Navy Pier opened to the public in 1916 and was 

originally named Municipal Pier #2; 

Whereas Navy Pier was built under nationally known architect Charles Sumner Frost, based on Daniel Burham’s 

‘‘Master Plan of Chicago’’; 


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Whereas Municipal Pier was the first of its kind to accommodate both the commercial shipping industry and recreation and entertainment for the public, drawing over 3 

million visitors annually; 

Whereas, in 1917, Municipal Pier was adapted to house several regiments of soldiers, Red Cross workers, and home 

defense units, and the Pier served as a barracks during 

World War I; 

Whereas Municipal Pier was officially renamed Navy Pier in 

1927 as a tribute to the United States Navy personnel 

who were housed at the Pier during the conflict; 

Whereas, from 1941 to 1947, the Pier was leased to the 

United States Navy as a naval training center for 60,000 

recruits, one of whom was President George H.W. Bush, 

who qualified for military service as a pilot; 

Whereas Navy Pier was the original home to the University 

of Illinois at Chicago from 1946 to 1965, and more than 

100,000 students attended classes during that time; 

Whereas, dubbed ‘‘Harvard on the Rocks’’, the University 

shared the space with the Chicago Police Department’s 

Traffic Division, the North Pier Terminal Company, and 

several military detachments; 

Whereas the Pier was designated a Chicago historic landmark 

in 1977; 

Whereas, between 1978 and 1982, Navy Pier was host to 

ChicagoFest, a summer music festival full of food, fun, 

and festivities; 

Whereas ChicagoFest eventually grew to become the Taste of 

Chicago, drawing millions of guests to the Pier and spurring millions of dollars in economic impact; 


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Whereas the Pier reopened in 1995 following a $150 million 

redevelopment, having improvements made to nearly 

every aspect of the three-quarter mile long public pier; 

Whereas, since that renovation, year-round entertainment, 

shopping, dining, attractions, and exhibitions have positioned the Pier as one of the most unique settings in the 

world; 

Whereas, in July of 2011, Navy Pier, Inc., the newly formed 

nonprofit entity entrusted with the operation and redevelopment of Navy Pier, put forth ‘‘The Centennial Vision’’, 

a framework for reimagining Navy Pier as a unique public space and cultural mecca; 

Whereas The Centennial Vision’s purpose is not only to expand the Pier’s audience, but to enrich the experience of 

its guests; 

Whereas The Centennial Vision, divided into two phases, establishes a framework befitting Chicago, a world-class 

city, with a vibrant architectural, cultural, and recreational landscape and includes a 30-year Sustainable 

Master Plan to address the Pier’s long-term environmental impact; 

Whereas accessibility is a fundamental value of The Centennial Vision redevelopment, particularly with respect to the 

built environment, amenities, public programming, and 

the overall guest experience; 

Whereas equal accessibility for all is a fundamental principle 

of the Pier’s mission and values as a nonprofit organization, the Pier complies and is consistent with the 2010 

ADA Standards for Accessible Design in all of its redevelopment efforts, and the Pier believes its facilities and 

programs should be accessible to all guests; 


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Whereas, with the completion of Phase 1 of The Centennial 

Vision in 2016, a record 9.26 million guests enjoyed new 

amenities such as the state-of-the-art Centennial Ferris 

Wheel, a Chicago-centric food experience, the redesigned 

South Dock Promenade with increased access to the waterfront and recreational boat experiences, and over 245 

free public arts and cultural programs; 

Whereas the Pier now enters Phase 2 of the redevelopment 

with extensive plans to upgrade the built environment 

and Pier structures such as the Family Pavilion and 

Crystal Garden; 

Whereas, in 2017, with the completion of 13-acre Polk Bros 

Park, the new Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the expanded Chicago Children’s Museum, the Pier projects to 

see attendance increase by as much as 26 percent as 

guests enjoy innovative, free public programming, 

participatory arts, cultural showcases, and the Pier’s sustainable recreational footprint; 

Whereas the Pier currently employees over 3,000 individuals 

and is home to 77 businesses and 5 nonprofit organizations; and 

Whereas the redevelopment is expected to generate 1,565 permanent and 1,659 temporary jobs across the city: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes Navy Pier as a public community 

3 resource and treasured Chicago landmark; 

4 (2) strongly affirms the goals and purpose of 

5 Navy Pier, Inc., as a community partner and non6 profit organization; and 


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1 (3) encourages individuals to visit Navy Pier 

2 and participate in the innovative and enriching free 

3 programs for the benefit of all and the greater Chi4 cago community. 

Æ 


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