CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A boat-owners dream is going to be a reality.
Navy Pier announced Monday that it will soon be the home to Chicago’s newest marina. The Navy Pier Marina will be the first marina on Lake Michigan to exclusively offer short term, transient docking facilities with immediate access to The People’s Pier dining, shopping and entertainment, filling a need for both local and visiting boaters.
According to Navy Pier, the marina will provide boaters with "a new and unique boating experience and will serve as the premier lakeside entry to the city."
The Navy Pier Marina is the result of project developer Randy Podolsky’s long-term vision and his dedication to bring the project to life.
“A marina at Navy Pier has been talked about casually for decades,” Podolsky said, in a statement. “For over 35 years I have dreamed about being able to moor at Navy Pier for lunch, dinner or an overnight stay. My vision to make the conceived marina a dedicated transient marina, brings the desires of all boaters to fruition. Since the project's approval by Chicago’s City Council in 2016, we have worked non-stop to bring the project to the people of Chicago, and all boaters who yearn for access to Navy Pier from the water. Navy Pier Marina is being privately funded and will bring the benefits of economic growth to the city, additional jobs and more exposure to Navy Pier.”
Launching in 2021 -- #NavyPierMarina•Visit https://t.co/6X3vjeKoN0 to join our exclusive list & learn about Lake Michigan’s first and only dedicated transient marina. pic.twitter.com/CUmKh3GEFS
— Navy Pier Marina (@NavyPierMarina)
December 21, 2019 The Chicago City Council approved a marina for Navy Pier in 2016, as part of a comprehensive Planned Development Amendment for Navy Pier, which also included the current hotel under construction and already completed Polk Bros Park. Now officials said construction is expected to begin in the fall and the grand opening of the marina will take place at the start of boating season 2021.
The Navy Pier Marina will be located on the north side of Navy Pier and will offer hourly, daily or weekly mooring to vessels up to 130’. Guest amenities include concierge services, 24-hour access and staffing, advance online reservations, secured entry, a boater’s lounge, ship store, WiFi, utilities, bike racks and in-slip pump-out facilities. Plus it will be dog-friendly!
The Navy Pier Marina will not offer fuel service.
More information about the new marina will be available at the Chicago Boat Show, Jan. 8-12 at McCormick Place and online at navypiermarina.com.
