Chicago River Day Registration Opens Today!

Today, Monday, March 24, volunteer registration for the 33rd Annual Chicago River Day begins. Join our thousands of individuals, families, community groups, and corporate teams on Saturday, May 10 for our largest litter removal and habitat restoration day at more than 90 locations throughout the watershed – from Lake County to the Calumet region and southwest to Summit, Palos, and beyond.

The fun and rewarding cleanup event also kicks off this year’s litter removal efforts under Friends’ Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River program, which includes more litter cleanup events on land and from the water.

Also this year, Friends is also 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. Thanks to a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 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.

Chicago River Day kicks off at 9 a.m., and runs to 12 noon and the community hubs will stay open to 1 p.m. Afterwards, 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.

To become a sponsor of Chicago River Day contact Friends’ Director of Equity and Engagement, Becky Lyons, at blyons@chicagoriver.org.