The Chicago River Conservation and Recovery Plan is a broad strategic planning effort by Friends of the Chicago River to outline a road map to realize our vision for a blue-green corridor.  

The planning process is multifaceted and includes:

• Reflecting on the changes that have occurred in the Chicago River system since Friends’ founding to visualize progress.
• Researching contemporary waterways management methodologies, current best practices, and case studies to inform our work.
• Connecting with stakeholders and experts to inform our future programs and projects.
• Identifying opportunities for strategic investments through future projects and programs.
• Outlining of implementation actions and strategies to realize the vision.

The plan will cover two major components:

1. The Vision Plan catalogs high level principles based on past successes, proposed future goals, and outlines high level strategies.
2. The Action Plans outline more detailed topic-specific research and recommendations. The Action Plans cover three topic areas of wildlife (view here),  people, and water.