USA: CHICAGO: NAVAL PIER GETS 200 MILLION DOLLAR FACE LIFT

(23 Jul 1995) English/Nat

There's a new way to beat the heat in Chicago - the mid-American city has revitalised it's Naval Pier and made it a new tourist destination.

A 200-million dollar face-lift has given it a new lease on life.

Chicago's Naval Pier first opened in 1915, serving schooners crossing the Great Lakes to bring freight and people to the city.

The pier has had its ups and downs but a new burst of money has given it a whole new look.

Developers spent 200-million dollars over the past five years renovating the historic pier and its 50 acres of parks, promenades, gardens and amusements.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

Yeah, I mean it's lived several lives and then really started, it probably declined during the period between the late Sixties and the early Seventies when there really wasn't a lot going on at the pier. And it was very expensive to keep it up. It's six blocks long.
SUPERCAPTION: Pier Developer, Jon Clay

The brand new pier boasts something for everyone to enjoy.

From live performances .... to old-fashioned amusement park rides.

More elegant visitors can take a spin around the newly renovated historic ballroom and pretend they're Fred and Ginger.

And for others - it's a trip down memory lane.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
VOXPOP ONE: I remember as a kid coming down here and playing basketball. Now that they've fixed it up with all the rides, now I'm bringing my son down to enjoy some of the rides on the pier.

VOXPOP TWO: Oh, it was excellent! It was excellent! It was beautiful they did a good job down here.
SUPERCAPTION: Visitors to the park

The brave-hearted can savour the view from the giant Ferris wheel.

It's modeled after the very first Ferris wheel, built for Chicago's 1893 World Expo.

Young visitors can ride their favourite animal on the new 44-foot carousel, that features hand-painted scenes depicting the pier's history.

And sea-worthy tourists can recapture the nautical flavour of one of Chicago's most famous landmarks - the Sears Tower - one of the world's largest buildings.

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