Community Paddle - South Branch

Community Paddle

Saturday, September 19

2 - 6 p.m.

First session: 2 - 4 p.m.

Second session: 4 -6 p.m.

Park 571, 2828 Eleanor Street, Chicago

FREE

Register HERE

This event is geared towards local residents surrounding the park from the Bridgeport, Chinatown, McKinley Park, and Pilsen communities.

To help more people get to know the river as a natural resource and learn about the ways Friends and community partners are caring for the river, Friends is hosting Community Paddles on the South Branch of the Chicago River. As part of Friends’ Litter Free Initiative, we are excited to partner with groups to educate and install trash collection devices, which we’ll highlight on the trip. We will help more people feel comfortable recreating on the water and keep our eyes open for birds, turtles, fish and mink.

Friends’ trusty canoe guides will help everyone safely load in and out of the canoes, answer questions about the river along the way and act as safety monitors on the water. We provide all equipment, paddling instruction, and safety talk. Trips start and end from the same location, rain or shine! Space is limited, registration required. Please cancel if you cannot make the trip to allow others to participate.

Friends and our partners at McKinley Park Development Council, PERRO, Shedd Aquarium, the South Branch Park Advisory Council, and Urban Rivers are hosting many fun community events at Park 571 and Canal Origins Park across the river, so check that all out here (in English) or here (en Español).