Chicago, Start Walking...
In Italy, the tradition of dressing, walking, courting and socializing in the piazza is known as "passeggiata" or "the walk". It happens around dusk each evening. Locals come out in the pre-dusk evening, stroll and chat and congregate. If it weren't such a positively compelling experience, would there be so much tourism where people seem to love being a part of it?
This tradition happens throughout Italy in Siena in the Piazza del Campo; in Rome, the Piazza Navona , around the Pantheon or near Trevi Fountain; in Venice, St. Mark's Square; and in Florence, Piazza de San Giovanni or Piazza della Signoria, and many other sites in other cities. It is a chance to be sociable and stretch your legs.
Pedestrians walk through the streets of the "centro storico" the historic center, a gentle stroll. Wouldn't it be nice to see Grant Park enjoyed by people like this, people out strolling, not just at Taste of Chicago or a formal event but enjoying the expansive park that we observe vacant for the most part day after day. More importantly, neighborhoods inland have to become infused with public places for public use, not just the corner tot lot.
When some other city or culture around the world has something we can learn from, we've got to hand it to them, and, if we are smart, follow their lead. Passeggiata is a custom that happens in other European countries but no other country seems to do this with quite the vitality of the Italians.
Come on Chicago, let's give them a run walk for their money.