CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It's 103 years old, but some would say it's getting better with age.
"It's like a fine wine," laughed Payal Patel, Senior Communications Manager, Navy Pier.
If you've walked the Pier lately, you'll notice major changes and additions.
"It all kinda began in 2011 with the transition to non-profit status. We became a non-profit. It really set the tone. It helped us spearhead this huge project that was ahead of us. We had some major donations, major gifts come in and this lead to what you see now," she said.
"I think all the moves that we've made so far are resonating with Chicagoans. We have free programs all year round like our movies, the Jazz series, we have yoga, we have fitness. That's all catered to local," she said.
Annual visitor projections reported by Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism bureau, show 57.6 million visitors in 2018 — a 4.3 percent jump over 2017’s record of 55.2 million.
"We're also really contributing to the local economy too. All of the construction jobs right now, tourism dollars. It all goes back to the city," she said.