Friends of the Chicago River “Chicago River Day”

Join Friends of the Chicago River on May 13 for the 31^st annual Chicago River Day. The spring litter cleanup and restoration event draws thousands of volunteers every year to work along the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system at more than 75 locations from Lake County to the Calumet region and southwest to Summit, Palos and beyond.

While the overall health of the Chicago River system in greatly improved, litter is a persistent problem and is harmful to people and wildlife. Over the years, volunteers have carted off hundreds of tons of garbage from the 156-mile Chicago River system and now many are working to restore riverbanks and upland areas and work on trails. Friends began this volunteer-driven free, family-friendly tradition in 1992 and it has steadily grown into Friends’ largest and most popular volunteer event of the year that moves us toward a Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River system. This year’s activities also mark World Migratory Bird Day.

The three-hour litter and restoration cleanup event kicks off at 9 a.m., and runs to 12 noon. Registration is required. Register before May 5 to receive a Chicago River Day T-shirt featuring this year’s river species, the blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale). Each year Friends features a river animal as part of Chicago River Day to help connect us to the many different animals that rely on us to care for and protect the river system.