Congratulations to our 2025 Award Winners!

We celebrate that our River Blue Award winners are making intentional choices to drive innovation for the continued protection and restoration of the Chicago-Calumet River system and surrounding watersheds.

View a complete list of past winners.

BLUE RIBBON AWARD

The Blue Ribbon Award winners represent creative and river-sensitive development, design, planning and leadership throughout the watershed. Only one Blue Ribbon is awarded annually. Past winners include the Horner Park Ecosystem Restoration, the Chicago Riverwalk, the Eleanor Street Boathouse, former Mayors Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel, RainReady, The Forge: Lemont Quarries, the Ford Calumet Environmental Center, and the Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife Habitat campaign.

 

2025 BLUE RIBBON AWARD WINNER

Image courtesy of Dan Wendt/MWRD

Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)

This year we recognize the transformative Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project. This expansive MWRD led project features a publicly-accessible stormwater park with cascading ponds, stabilized and restored streambanks, rain gardens, and bioswales that manage and clean stormwater runoff before it enters the Cal-Sag Channel. Together, these elements reduce flooding, restore nearly 2,000 linear feet of Midlothian Creek with native vegetation, improve water quality, and remove more than 1,300 parcels from the 100-year floodplain.

 

SILVER RIBBON AWARDS

The Silver Ribbon is awarded to projects that exhibit an exceptional level of sustainable practices and design excellence on multiple levels.

2025 SILVER RIBBON AWARD WINNER

Lockport Prairie and Prairie Bluff Ecosystem Restoration Project

Forest Preserve District of Will County, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC.

This over 600 acre large-scale ecosystem restoration project in Lockport took over six years and supports local populations of indicator species including muskrats, Blanding’s turtles, and the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly. Prior to investment in this site, the floristic quality of the prairie had been in steady decline, putting at risk the regionally important Hine’s emerald dragonfly habitat. The project’s incredible site improvements include expansive removal of invasive species, restoring natural underground flow processes, and improving habitats along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal corridor.

 

GREEN RIBBON AWARDS

The Green Ribbon Award recognizes projects that demonstrate a high level of river-sensitive design and consideration.

2025 GREEN RIBBON AWARD WINNERS

Talbot Avenue Drainage Improvement Project

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Lake County, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, and Lake County Health Department

This resilient green infrastructure project along an important upstream area of the Chicago-Calumet River system increases stormwater storage capacity through the use of nature-based engineering strategies. By expanding the existing channel and installing low profile native plant vegetation along the bottom and side slopes of the channel, the project provides multi benefits including new habitat for pollinators and reduces downstream flooding to protect residents.

 

Image courtesy of the Shedd Aquarium.

“Natural shorelines support greater diversity and abundances of fishes in Chicago’s waterways riverfront”

John G. Shedd Aquarium & Illinois Department of Natural Resources

This groundbreaking research study reveals important trends in fish diversity and abundance along different shoreline types in the Chicago River system. Lengths of bulkhead, natural, and rip rap shoreline were calculated within 300 meters of each sampling location, which occur every 100 meters throughout the river system. Fish species richness and abundance increased with higher proportions of natural shoreline. The findings of the study illustrate the importance of maintaining natural riparian shorelines and ecoengineering strategies to enhance aquatic habitat in Chicago waterways.

 

Image courtesy of Scott Shigley for Site Design Group

University of Chicago Campus South Walk

The University of Chicago, Site Design Group, TERRA Engineering, Turner Construction Company

The South Walk showcases an innovative approach to nature-based stormwater management at the University of Chicago that thoughtfully integrates stormwater management and ecological design into the landscape of a campus pedestrian corridor. Through new gardens, lawns, landscaped mounds, rain gardens, pathways, and reclaimed materials the project provides synergies between the engineering and water cycles. The project provides multiple benefits for our watershed and sets an example for other nature-based campus projects. 

 

Image courtesy of artist, Shayne Taylor.

Supporting Chicago River education and access at River Park

Chicago Park District

This award recognizes numerous improvements at River Park, located along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Improvements include a new fleet of canoes for programming, a pilot project of kayak and canoe storage lockers available for individual rentals, improved access pathways, an updated accessible boat launch, new benches and plantings, and beautiful murals showcasing local river wildlife. These new amenities for Chicago River recreation, especially the often requested and innovative public boat storage system, sets an important precedent for providing new ways for people to access and enjoy the river.

 

Why We Care

Flowing and meandering through urban and suburban communities, forest preserves and parks, industrial and commercial districts, as well as the heart of downtown, the 156-mile long Chicago-Calumet River system connects millions of people to nature. It provides wildlife a place to live, considerable recreational opportunity, and an ever-increasing diversity of economic benefits derived from the waterfront.

As a result, the Chicago-Calumet River system is one of the best opportunities for improving quality of life for people who live and work in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. However, the pressure to develop the river’s edge creates potential to destroy the magic the river provides. It is critical to continue focusing on and emphasizing river friendly actions to protect the river system and its health.

Friends of the Chicago River developed Chicago River Blue awards campaign to educate, encourage, and reward creative projects that are closely aligned with our vision. More information about our priority best practices for river edge projects can be viewed in our Developer Resource Guide document.