Friends Applauds Historic Return of the Chicago River Swim

Everyone at Friends of the Chicago River is celebrating the City of Chicago’s official approval of the 2025 Chicago River Swim, the first open water swim in the Chicago River in nearly a century. Set for Sunday, September 21 this milestone event marks a powerful symbol of how far we have come in revitalizing the Chicago-Calumet River system which was once disregarded as a part of the sewer system and a second class citizen as compared to the lake—a condition that is no longer true.

Friends has been a proponent support of the Chicago River Swim since its organizers first approached us with the germ of an idea almost a decade ago.

“This is the natural next step for what’s right for Chicago, what’s right for the Chicago River, and what’s right for the people who live here,” said Friends’ Executive Director Margaret Frisbie in the Chicago Tribune. “We are excited about how this event demonstrates to people about the health of the Chicago River and we applaud the City, A Long Swim, and everyone who helped make this event a reality.”

Friends has worked for decades to protect and restore the ecological health of the river for all people, water, and wildlife, and was part of the powerful allied force that secured the recreational water quality standards that included swimming in 2011.  The Chicago River Swim marks a bold step forward, demonstrating our collective leadership in recognizing the vital role our rivers play in public health and building a climate-resilient future.

The event, produced by A Long Swim, a nonprofit organization founded by world-class open-water swimmer Doug McConnell, will benefit two important causes: groundbreaking ALS research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, and swim safety education for at-risk children in Chicago.

We can’t wait to cheer on the swimmers in September.