River Reminiscent – 1994

Determined to open the river up for recreation, Friends of the Chicago River publishes the Unofficial Paddling Guide to the Chicago River and starts to take people canoeing so that they can see the river’s magic and learn how they can protect and restore it. This leads to the creation of Friends’ official Paddling Program in 1995 which enables tens of thousands of people to get out on the water and directly impacts improved water quality rules 16 years later, and beyond. Today, with more than 75 trained volunteer guides, the immersive canoe program introduces over 1,000 people each year to the river system and educates them on what they can do to protect it now and into the future.