It took three Chicago mayors to build the downtown Riverwalk.
It began when Mayor Richard J. Daley took the first serious steps to clean the Chicago River. Nobody was going to build a walkway next to an open sewer.
Chicago’s second Mayor Daley, Richard M., began the construction. He didn’t get far, but he had the vision. He understood that this wasn’t about Chicago putting on a party dress, but about creating a vibrant city that could compete on the world stage.
Then came Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who ran with the Walk. He found the necessary money and was born with the necessary impatience.