Are you signed up for Chicago River Day?
With one week to go and with the most ever locations – 92 sites – all along the river system, we invite you to sign up and join us at the 33rd Annual Chicago River Day on Saturday May 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Register here.
With the support of 32 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 plants from Lake County to the Calumet region and southwest to Summit, Palos and beyond.
Volunteers Needed at Key Sites
With more than 2,000 volunteers already registered, many Chicago River Day locations are full, but there is capacity and need at several beautiful river-edge and forest preserve locations. Specifically, we are hoping to add more volunteers at Kickapoo Woods and Whistler Woods in Riverdale, Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland, the Alsip Boat Launch in southwest suburban Alsip, Skokie River Prairie Land and Water Reserve, and Skokie River Nature Preserve. Please consider experiencing a new part of the river system you haven’t seen before!
Also this year, Friends is hosting three community hubs at select Chicago River Day locations to educate the public about our River Shallows project that builds resilience in the shallows of the river where land and water meet. This vital initiative is aimed at improving habitats, reducing erosion, and boosting climate resilience through native aquatic plantings in the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system. The three hubs will be located at Kickapoo Woods in south suburban Riverdale, Canal Shores Golf Course in Evanston, and Canal Origins Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side. All are welcome at hub locations from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., even if volunteer spots are full.
Friends began this volunteer-driven, free, family-friendly tradition in 1992, and it has steadily grown into our largest and most popular volunteer event of the year, motivating people across the watershed toward a Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River system.
Following Chicago River Day activities, volunteers are invited to come together from 12 – 3 p.m. at Burning Bush Brewery in Chicago or Blue Island Beer Company in Blue Island to connect and swap stories from the day. Both celebration events are for all ages and family friendly.
