Plan to move Taste of Chicago near Navy Pier draws City Council backlash

The Taste of Chicago, normally held in Grant Park, would move to a park near Navy Pier this summer under a schedule proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. (Rich Hein/Sun-Times/File)

Lame-duck Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to hold Taste of Chicago on the same July 4 weekend as NASCAR’s first street-course race — but move Taste to a park near Navy Pier — hit a wall of opposition Tuesday.

Downtown Alderpersons Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Brian Hopkins (2nd) persuaded Special Events and Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Nick Sposato (38th) to hold the annual special events ordinance in committee to avert what Reilly called a “planning disaster.”