Swimmable Cities Movement Makes 100

In December. the International Swimmable Cities Charter, of which Friends of the Chicago River was a founding signatory in July of this year, announced a new benchmark of 100 organizations, from 52 cities and 22 countries, have now signed on to the charter to champion the right to swim, celebrate urban swimming culture, and honor the sacredness of water.

This worldwide movement recognizes that urban rivers must be places where people can swim, and it promotes a vision that Friends embraced decades ago: a swimmable Chicago-Calumet River system that is clean, accessible and welcoming to all. It is also imperative as we face the climate crisis.

To demonstrate swimability and recreation in the Chicago River, Friends, and then-MWRD Commissioner Josina Morita, pioneered The Big Jump on the South Branch in 2017 and the Summer Float Party on the North Branch in 2021.

These high-profile events highlighted the collective work to improve the river’s water quality and demonstrated a commitment to making the Chicago-Calumet River system swimmable for all.

We are proud of all we have accomplished towards this goal by improving the water quality of our river system and access to it in partnership with so many others.