Know Before You Go!
Programs and events with Urban Rivers
General Information
Our events are entirely outdoors, so please dress according to the weather! During the summer, we suggest that you wear sun protection and bring a water bottle and a hat. In the spring and fall bring a rain layer and closed toed shoes. For the rare winter event, layer up and wear boots and gloves.
We also encourage you to make an informed individual decision about your comfort level with the outdoor conditions when weather or air quality are concerns, even when we choose to continue our outdoor programming.
We encourage you to take pictures on the Wild Mile! If you share them, go ahead and tag us at @urbanrivers!
Cancellation Policy
Due to the nature of our work, we occasionally have to cancel events for safety reasons. We will do our absolute best to communicate with attendees and co-organizers as quickly as possible after making a decision. All event postings on our website will be updated if we decide to cancel, and event registrants will be emailed. For any partner events, please defer to the event organizer, since Urban Rivers staff won’t necessarily be involved in their decisions.
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Due to the possibility of temperature induced illnesses, we will cancel events if temperatures are forecasted to reach the following values:
Heat
All Events: ≥100℉ +
Sensitive Groups: ≥95℉ + humidity over 60%
For Children: ≥ 90℉ + humidity over 35%
Cold
All Events: ≤15℉ and below
Sensitive Groups: ≤5℉ and below with Wind Chill
For Children: ≤15℉ and below
We will use following weather sites to monitor conditions: Wunderground Chicago, NWS Forecast . Five Day Precipitation Forecast Map | AccuWeather
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Since our events are most outdoors we maintain a rain or shine policy, with the following exceptions. In cases of severe and abnormal weather we may cancel (tornado watch, hail, etc...) Events on the water are subject to cancellation if winds reach speeds of 20mph.
For the most part, lighting is what impacts our events. We will pause programming and seek shelter if thunder or lightning are seen or heard. Events can resume 30 mins after the last thunder or lighting has occurred.
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Chicago runs on a combined sewage system. As such, when there are larger rainfall events, sewage can be released into the river when. These events can increase the risk of coming into contact with harmful bacteria. Events on the water will be canceled within 48 hours of a major CSO upstream from the event. Additionally, if the harmful sewage has not cleared from the impacted area after 48 hours, our staff may still make the call to cancel the event.
We use the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to track CSO events.
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We will cancel events if the air quality is over 150 AQI at which point the air is unhealthy for most individuals due to air pollution. For air quality between 100-149 AQI, members of sensitive groups (e.g. children, older adults, and folks with respiratory issues) should take caution by wearing a mask, limiting time outdoors at the event, or not participating. When the AQI reaches 100 to 149, field trip groups will be contacted to determine comfort level moving forward. We will provide PPE when possible.
We use the Air Quality Index Tracker and IQ Air to monitor air quality.
Wayfinding
All our locations can be tricky to find - that’s just the nature of the river! Click the buttons to see the specific waypoints that will allow you to enjoy the best view of our gardens (these are also the spots where our facilitators will meet you for a scheduled event).
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The Wild Mile’s entrance is situated directly behind the Lincoln Park REI! It’s a bit tucked away, but if you walk all the way to the end of Eastman Street so that you can see the river, you’ll be able to find the entryway.
The best bet for parking surrounding the Wild Mile is street parking, which can usually be readily found on Blackhawk Street, Eastman Street, and Kingsbury Street. Surrounding the Carbit Paint Building, there are also a few lots, some of which are accessible and some of which are not.
Drop-off of groups can happen at the end of the Eastman Street cul-de-sac, as this is the best place for unloading large groups of people near the Wild Mile.
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Canal Origins is also a bit tucked-away! Since it’s sloped, it’s tricky to see from the road. Don’t worry - if you followed the address above, you should be in the right spot!
Parking is almost always available along S. Ashland Ave! There is usually enough space for multiple school buses, and many cars.
The typical meeting point for large groups is along the railing that borders the river, just past the concrete walkway that connects with the street-level sidewalk - our facilitators will most likely meet you here! If you can’t find our facilitators up by Ashland Ave, they might be down by the river at this larger gathering space.NOTE: Some of our Bubbly Creek events (namely our Friday community kayaking) take place at Park 571, which is on the opposite side of the river. Make sure you check the event posting to make sure you know which park will be hosting the event!)
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River Park is a massive park split into two by the Chicago River. We will always meet on the west side of the river closest to where our floating islands are. When you see a boathouse, a track field and some prairie plants, you’ll know you are in the right spot!
Parking is almost always available along W. Argyle Street and N Albany Ave! There is usually enough space for multiple school buses, and many cars.
The typical meeting point for large groups is near the kayak launch (dock system) on the river’s west bank. Our facilitators will likely meet you here!
Parking
Street parking is generally easy to find around River Park and Bubbly Creek. However, the Wild Mile is situated in a busier area! Please reference the following map for some guidance on finding parking in the local area.
Accessibility
Our islands by Chicago Public Parks are accessible for events, featuring ramps and paved walkways, although many also feature uneven pavement.
Wild Mile Physical Accessibility
The Wild Mile is ADA-accessible - the floating boardwalk is connected to the street-level entryway by an 80-foot metal gangway. Because the level of the water changes frequently, the slope of the ramp is not constant. When the river is approximately at its lowest (such as before big storm when the level is preemptively lowered), the slope is 11.5%. When the river level is higher, which it usually is, the ramp will be less steep.
The metal gangway is roughly textured to ensure grip in wet or snowy conditions, and is equipped with metal handlebars along its entire length. However, the Wild Mile’s wooden boardwalk is not equipped with handlebars, and can become slippery in icy or very wet conditions.
At the end of the gangway, there is a small floating platform that predates the installation of the Wild Mile. It is connected to the remainder of the floating boardwalk by a rounded wooden bridge that bridges the ~8-inch gap. The raised nature of this portion can be a barrier for some wheelchair-users!
The boardwalk itself is floating, and experiences small movements from the water. Typically, when the water is calm, the movements are not noticeable. However, when the water is choppy, or when a passing boat kicks up wake, the boardwalk can move quite a bit. Additionally, when large groups of people walk together on the boardwalk, it tends to sway side-to-side.
Wild Mile Event Considerations
Seating: At our events, we are able to provide raised seating for around ten people. While we typically treat seating as first-come first-served, we always prioritize those with mobility-related needs - if you’d like to ensure that we have a seat available for you, please either email us at team@urbanriv.org in advance, or find a facilitator at the event and ask! We’ll make sure you have a place to sit, and are able to comfortably enjoy the program.
Auditory Interpretation: Unfortunately, we are not currently able to provide ASL interpreters at our events. If you would like to provide an ASL interpreter for an event, or if you’d be interested in helping us seek funding for this kind of resource, please do not hesitate to contact us at team@urbanriv.org! We would love to collaborate.
Masking and COVID safety: If you are experiencing symptoms of an infectious disease, please refrain from attending our events. While we do not typically require masks at our events, we welcome their use if you feel most comfortable wearing one! We also have a stock of surgical masks that we are happy to provide you upon request. As some of our event partners may have different mask requirements, please make sure to check event descriptions carefully before attending events on the Wild Mile.
If you have a question about accessibility that isn’t answered in the photos and descriptions below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at team@urbanriv.org!
Bathrooms and Water
The nearest bathroom and water fountains are located in REI, just steps from the Wild Mile! Their employees kindly allow groups from our events to use their facilities. REI is open 9am - 9pm on Saturdays, 10am - 7pm on Sundays, and 10am - 9pm on weekdays.
If you’re attending an event outside of these hours, OR need a wheelchair-accessible facility, you are welcome to use the bathroom in our office, about a block away from the Wild Mile’s entrance. Please find a volunteer or staff member, and they’ll show you the way! Note that although the single-user bathroom is accessible via a ramp and a 33-inch door, it is not equipped with handlebars, and therefore may be challenging for certain users with different mobility needs.
When visiting our floating islands bordering Chicago Public Parks, there is varied bathroom and water access. At River Park and Park 571 there are water fountains and participants can use the fieldhouse during their open hours: River Park Fieldhouse Hours Park No. 571 Hours
Unfortunately there is no current bathroom access or water for Canal Origins Park. We will bring a water cooler for events there, and suggest you bring your own water bottle as well.