Chicago River Day is Days Away

With just days to go and with the most ever locations – 80 sites – all along the river system, we invite you to sign up and join us this week in the final push to encourage volunteers to register for Chicago River Day on Saturday May 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

With more than 2,000 volunteers already registered, many Chicago River Day locations are full, but there is capacity at many of our beautiful river-edge and forest preserve locations. Specifically, volunteers are needed at La Villita Park, Little Calumet Boat Launch, Kickapoo Woods, Sand Ridge Nature Center, Greenbelt Forest Preserve, and Somme Woods.  

Registration is required. With the support of 31 sponsors and numerous organizational partners from the City of Chicago, Cook County, and Lake County, hard-working volunteers will pick up trash and remove invasive plant material from Lake County to the Calumet region and southwest to Summit, Palos and beyond.

While the overall health of the Chicago River system in greatly improved, litter is a persistent problem and is harmful to people and wildlife. Over the years, volunteers have carted off hundreds of tons of garbage from the 156-mile Chicago River system and now many are working to restore riverbanks and upland areas and work on trails. This volunteer-driven free, family-friendly event began more than 30 years ago and has steadily grown into Friends’ largest and most popular volunteer event of the year, inspiring action and advocacy to move us toward a Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River system.

Click here to listen to Friends’ Executive Director Margaret Frisbie discuss the importance of Chicago River Day with radio personality Chris Petlak of The Morning Mix 101.9 FM – our Chicago River Day media partner.