A prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline, Millennium Park covers a 24.5-acre (99,000 m2) section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously occupied by parkland, rail yards, and parking lots. It currently features a variety of public art, a seasonal skating rink, and a large central sward overhung with white criss-crossed metal beams. As of 2009, Millennium Park trailed only Navy Pier as a Chicago tourist attraction, and in 2015, the park became the location of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting.