Summarize in a cohesive paragraph why hot-dip galvanizing was specified for this project. This was a 200 ton project all of which was galvanized and painted. The designer, construction company and fabricator all had a long and successful history with hot-dip galvanizing. With a commitment to a tight schedule and with some expediting, the project finished on time.

For years Chicago, had been trying to improve the north end of Chicagos Grant Park. When a deal to move the Childrens Museum to that location fell through, in part to the 2008 economic crash, things were put in motion for Maggie Daley Park to be created. Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley named the park for his late wife, a woman dedicated to the citys parks, art and landscape. This location is ideal to honor this lady in Chicagos front yard of Grant Park.

Maggie Daley Park is transforming the sites of Daley Bicentennial Plaza into a single, continuous public landscape that operates at a variety of scales, including serving a growing residential community and joining Millennium Park as a new international destination on the Chicago lakefront.

The projects goal was to create a dynamic, sustainable, multi-functional park that reaches out to the local neighborhood as well as the larger Chicago community and tourist population.

The Chicago Park District brought in award-winning landscape designers Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, who are known for their expertise on sustainability and highly regarded projects such Teardrop Park and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and Bailey Plaza Park at Cornell University. The 20-acre park with a $60 million budget would tie together such iconic city sites like Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute and Cloud Gate, more commonly known as The Bean.

This area of Grant Park is not only utilized by thousands of nearby residents, but by tourists from around the country and the world as well, Timothy J. Mitchell Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO said in a Landscape Online article. Its only fitting that this project be helmed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc., a design firm whose experience has successfully shown imagination, inclusiveness, and emphasizes nature and discovery.

The 13 light masts standing 50 feet tall look like an insect, which many say resembles a praying mantis. The unique idea is that some of the 1,000 trees planted will grow up to the height of the lights and create a moon-lit glow along the walking path and grass valleys. The white color was chosen to enhance that nighttime glow. During the day and until the trees mature, the light masts provide a striking view against the world famous Chicago skyline.

For the galvanizing community, being part of such a high-profile project in a major U.S. metropolis is not only great exposure but a chance to show why this option is so revered and why it is the preferred method. The white color of the light masts stand boldly against the strong Chicago skyscrapers during the day. At night, the white will mimic the moon-lit glow along the walking path.

To see the final view of this important project, see the webcams at http://maggiedaleyparkconstruction.org/construction.php?page=view.

Corrosion protection was a must for this project. With years in the planning and half a million visitors in its first year, this site is one of the most recognizable in the country. To avoid any compromised coating for several decades, hot dip galvanizing was the only choice. Having to shut down the park for repairs or replacement of the light masts would be unacceptable. Add in the impact on maturing trees if any repairs are needed and the only choice was hot-dip galvanizing. A sustainable choice was the only option.

The design of the praying mantis looking light masts is unique to say the least. These are not the usual light stands you might see at your local park. As the trees matures, the lights themselves can be adjusted to highlight the walking path and the grass valleys. Some of the 13 light masts also straddle parts of the path as visitors walk under them.

This 200-ton, very high-profile project was improved with choosing a duplex system. The benefits of the galvanizing protection, along with the white paint for added life and beauty, are obvious. The designer is known for their expertise in sustainability and chose hot-dip galvanizing on other projects as well. The goal of avoiding repairs and disrupting the use of the park was achieved by choosing hot-dip galvanizing. Further, the project was enhanced with the white paint to complement to the lights moon-lit glow.