Urban Rivers
WEBTransform City Rivers into Urban Sanctuaries. Urban Rivers works in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, community groups, corporations and local businesses to ensure thoughtful planning and acceptance of the Wild Mile as a long-term and cherished asset.
Our Mission - Urban Rivers
WEBWe seek to target and transform historically degraded areas of the Chicago River into lush gardens and public walkways that benefit the communities around them, improving environmental quality and increasing access to nature.
Bubbly Creek - Urban Rivers
WEBBubbly Creek is the nickname given to the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River. Bubbly Creek was historically one of the most polluted sections of the Chicago River, a site for dumping just about anything that meatpacking industry could create.
Research — Urban Rivers
WEBRivers running through urban environments can create safe corridors which birds and bats can travel through or make homes in, and the disconnection from the land means they can more easily hide from predators such as rats and raccoons.
Donate — Urban Rivers
WEBYour donation will transform urban rivers into urban wildlife sanctuaries. By supporting Urban Rivers, you are helping us to build critical wetland habitat and innovative community green spaces, making our city greener, more sustainable, and educational for all.
Annual Reports - Urban Rivers
WEBAs a not-for-profit organization, Urban Rivers publicly discloses its annual reports. These reports give depth to our mission, projects and programs.
Education — Urban Rivers
WEBWhether through nature-based arts and crafts, viewing microbes with research-grade microscopes, or learning about local river history, students walk away with a deeper understanding of the river’s importance in our everyday lives. Field trips are always free for students and available year-round.
In The News — Urban Rivers
WEBHere’s How A Local Group Is Reviving The Chicago River’s Freshwater Mussels. Block Club Chicago / Xuandi Wang / November 10, 2022. Urban Rivers has helped reproduce more than 1,500 mussels, which improve the water quality by filter feeding and removing pollutants. Read more.
Trash Robot - Urban Rivers
WEBTrash robot piloted a community controlled trash cleaning device in the Chicago River. Currently down for maintenance. After the installation of our first floating habitat in June 2017, we found that one specific issue continued to plague the otherwise beautiful area... trash. First, we tried cleaning it up by hand.
Events - Urban Rivers
WEBOct 2, 2024 · Urban Rivers and our partners have been hard at work reintroducing native habitat to this historic Chicago waterway. Our free kayak days connect the local community with this pocket of nature in the heart of the city.