Chicago River Day

Chicago River Day 20/20: See What You Can Do
April 23 - May 12, 2012

When Friends of the Chicago River started Chicago River Day in 1992 just 25 people signed up. Originally called “River Rescue Day,” volunteers rescued the river by dragging old shopping carts, mattresses, and plastic bags from its banks.

Those rescuers were early visionaries who, like Friends, could see past the garbage to a future for the Chicago River that was bright and hopeful. And they were willing to work with us to make that vision real.

Twenty years and more than 42,375 volunteers later, the rescue has been dropped and the river is no longer a back alleyway filled with sewage and junk. It is vibrant and alive with people in canoes, kayaks and tour boats, river edge trails, 70 species of fish, 60 species of birds, and all kinds of native animals including beavers, muskrats, and turtles. This progress was only made possible because of sponsors, volunteers and partners. We hope you will join them for this 20th anniversary celebration.

In 2012, to commemorate our success, between April 23 and May 12, Friends will bring the river to all our communities through Chicago River Day 20/20 - See What You Can Do - 20 days of activities and special events on the river and beyond its banks. This wonderful whirlwind will range from art projects and fish releases to habitat days and themed river tattoos and even a river-edge pub crawl. 20/20 will culminate with the 20th annual Chicago River Day on Saturday, May 12.

On March 28, 2012, Chicago River Day 20/20 will officially launch the Chicago River Day 20/20 calendar with a comprehensive list of events and activities that you can take part in for this 20 day celebration. We will also open registration for sites for the Chicago River Day you know and love that will be the culmination of this celebration on Saturday, May 12.