In contrast to popular belief, Millennium Park does have more to offer Chicagoans than some lawn space and an ice-skating rink.

The park, sprawling 24.5 acres in downtown Chicago, contains within its boundaries a dance center, a concert hall, gardens and sculptures. First conceived in 1997 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, Millennium Park has become a major attraction for the arts in Chicago.

First there is the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, founded in 2003 and located at 205 E. Randolph Drive. The Harris Theater has become a prime indoor performance site for many Chicago groups. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago plans to perform at the venue starting March 22.

“It’s a secret, underground thing,” says Elizabeth Atwater, a Weinberg sophomore. “It is very unassuming from the outside and feels like a bunker.”

Atwater recently traveled to Harris Theater to see the Apollo Chorus of Chicago perform.

“It’s a classical venue, mostly ballet and modern symphony,” Atwater says.

Above ground, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Great Lawn swallow the east side of the park. The pavilion is an outdoor concert venue with state-of-the-art acoustic equipment. It houses the Grant Park Music Festival and other free concert events.

“How do you make everyone feel good about coming to this place to listen to music?” says Frank Gehry, the architect behind the Pritzker Pavilion. “You make people feel part of the experience.”

However, few park-goers notice the other options available. Most travel down for ice skating around Christmas and fail to see the major venues.

“There was a glowing tower that changed colors,” says Matt Vickery, a Communcation sophomore, of what he saw on his last visit to Millennium Park.

Vickery went to Millennium Park to ice skate in January. He says he would be willing to see what else Millennium Park has to offer, but just did not know what else was there.

“I’m always looking for things to do in Chicago,” Vickery says. “I was not aware of anything other than ice skating. I thought that was all there was.”

Millennium Park is on Michigan Avenue, east of the Madison El stop, and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.