If you’ve ever ziplined before, you know it’s a huge rush. But even the most experienced zipliner out there probably hasn’t pulled off many runs in freezing weather.
ER2 Image Group recently installed event graphics in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago for global advertising agency, Foote, Cone & Belding. The zipline was for “Escape the Cold. Warm Your Heart”, a campaign for Kissimmee, Florida tourism. The weather wasn’t that bad for us Chicagoans —at the time of our install, the temperature was a balmy 15 degrees!
The project had a goal of bringing a little Florida sunshine to the Chicago winter. “The biggest challenge,” said Chris Cassettari, Account Executive at ER2, “was finding the right material to place on the freezing asphalt for the runway under the zipline.”
The material we went with was SoftWalk, and we stocked up on 1,040 sqft of it for the 8’ x 130’ runway. Plus, we grabbed plenty of outdoor flag banners and whirlwind signs. Then we bundled up and prepared for the frigid installation.
Fun fact: The Kissimmee travelers bureau grabbed two alligators from their Florida gator exhibit and drove them up for the Illinois winter. The zipline itself was meant to mimic the zipline the bureau suspended over their live gator pond. The ground graphic ER2 installed simulated the pond underneath the zipline.
No gators were harmed in the journey to the north. In fact, they enjoyed a heated tent and were more comfortable than most of the humans.
As usual, the weather was no match for the know-how and flexibility of ER2. We’re used to these character-building winters, and we’re able to make our clients’ dreams a reality—rain or shine.
