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CHICAGO – Navy Pier and Northwestern Medicine (NM) have partnered to create a new guest amenity that encircles the historic lakefront destination, the Northwestern Medicine Wellness Way Fitness Trail. The newly opened Wellness Way outdoor walking path is 1.5 miles and features distance checkpoints and fitness tips. Starting and ending in Polk Bros Park, guests can exercise by walking, jogging or running along the waterfront while learning healthy tips from the NM HealthBeat via QR codes found on the quarter-mile markers along the Pier’s South and North Docks.
“We are pleased to offer residents and visitors the opportunity to enhance their visit to the iconic Navy Pier,” said Dean M. Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “The NM Wellness Way will offer access to health tips and wellness strategies throughout the walking path while enjoying some of the best views of Chicago.”
“The Wellness Way was created with the health of Navy Pier’s millions of guests in mind through encouraging them to track their steps while walking the length of the Pier – which is actually the same distance as if they were walking from Water Tower Place to the Chicago River,” said Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier. “Offering both fitness tips and stunning views of Lake Michigan, the Wellness Way will lead visitors towards healthful practices and allow them to experience all that our historic Pier has to offer.”
Guests are invited to experience the NM Wellness Way Fitness Trail during Navy Pier’s first ever 5K race on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 9:00 a.m. Registration for the Frank ‘N’ Steins 5K is $40 per entrant and includes race t-shirt, complimentary hot dog, and beer (for guests 21 and over) post-race at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
The support of partners like NM enabled Navy Pier to reopen and rebound quickly after COVID-19 necessitated an 8-month-long temporary closure. As a lead partner to the Pier’s reopening campaign, the Wellness Way demonstrates NM’s commitment to healthy lifestyles in local communities and the importance of cultural destinations like the Pier which is now fully reopened and hosting free public programs, including concerts, outdoor movies, fitness classes, and family-friendly events like the ongoing Halloween Family Fun Days happening Saturdays in October (through Oct. 30) and featuring costume contests, scavenger hunts, trivia contests and more.
Guests are also encouraged to check out other Pier-wide experiences like the iconic Centennial Wheel, the new Drop Tower ride and other Pier Park rides, dining, retail, boat cruises and more. Guests can now extend their visit with an overnight stay at the new Sable hotel. Please visit Navy Pier’s website for a full list of open and available establishments.
Navy Pier is operating in accordance with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with updated guidelines recommending that everyone over 2 years of age wear masks in public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Click here to view Navy Pier’s COVID-19 operations and updates.
To download images of the new NM Wellness Way Fitness Trail, click here.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS NAVY PIER’S PRESS KIT, INCLUDING B-ROLL, PHOTOS AND LOGO.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE
To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit NM.org.
About Navy Pier
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities and more.
The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. In 2021, Navy Pier continued to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts—including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurants and partnerships, and thrilling additions to Pier Park. The Pier is also proud to continue providing free, year-round arts and cultural programming designed to inspire, educate and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization, in support of the organization’s post-pandemic revival and free public programming. For more information, visit www.navypier.org.