How do you turn a collection of highrises into a community?
Add a park. It seems to be working at Lakeshore East, the new mixed-use development between Wacker Drive and Randolph Street.
The park is drawing residents of the new highrises in Lakeview East, like The Lancaster, as well as people who live in older buildings nearby, such as The Parkshore.
People are bringing their dogs along to the park, striking up conversations with fellow dog owners and making friends. Makes us feel all warm and fuzzy.
The new area is also full of interesting shapes and angles, including the cool Lakeshore East signs at the front entrance, which are in the shape of little silver sails, as you can see in the second photograph. The signs only went up on Saturday, so they were the talk of the park on Sunday.