Winter Wetlands, Winter Wonderland
Partner Spotlight: 11th Hour Racing
Last summer, our partners at 11th Hour Racing teamed up with Gnarly Bay to document our restoration work, mussel reintroduction efforts, and volunteer programs. We’re incredibly stoked at the final product - give it a watch!
11th Hour Racing supports healthy aquatic ecosystems worldwide, and has been an instrumental partner in our efforts to reintroduce native freshwater mussels to the Chicago River.
The 2024 Annual Report is Here!
Two new installations, international recognition, and our most far-reaching community engagement initiatives to date made 2024 an unforgettable year for Urban Rivers. We also took a lot of cool bird pictures. The full 2024 annual report is now live on our website, check it out here!
When the River Freezes Over…
It’s unusual that the channel in which is Wild Mile is situated will completely ice over… but it does happen! During the coldest days of the year, ice will often cover most or all of the river. The ducks and geese take it all in stride, taking up residence at the newly-formed waterfront property. Check out some cute footage here.
Piggies on the River
At Urban Rivers, we fight an annual 5-month-long battle to keep the Wild Mile active and in-use while the weather is frigid. So when our community partners come to us with a fully developed idea for a 6am riverside pigs-in-a-blanket festival on the historic coldest day of the year, we eagerly accept! Fortunately, the weather was lovely, and our friends at Frontera, BLiS, Weber Grills, Greenwood Associates, Dark Matter Coffee, and Sleepwalk Chocolate really brought the flavor!
Special thanks to our friend Lou at S.A.C.R.E.D Agave for pulling it all together. If you missed the event, you can check out the full CBS Chicago coverage here!
February Events Calendar
No need to wait until summer to come enjoy the Wild Mile! Event descriptions and RSVP links can always be found on the events page of our website.
River Ranger Social: February 13th, 6 - 7:30pm (Off Color Brewing)
Wild Mile Walking Tour: February 19th, 5:30 - 6:00pm
Wild Mile S’mores Night: February 19th, 6 - 7:30pm
Office Insights
River Romance
Love always prevails, but it isn’t always simple. If you’re having complicated feelings this Valentine’s Day, fear not - our wildlife cameras prove you’re not alone.
Some of us have a partner who’s our rock…
Others are partners in crime…
Those of us with children might be taking whole-family synchronized dance classes…
Chonkosaurus is probably spending the day with Stagg (her long-term boyfriend of at least 3 years)…
Maybe a few of us are in the midst of a lover’s quarrel…
Some of us are on really thin ice…
And tragically, some of us seem to have been voted out of our sapphic polycule :(
However you choose to spend this Valentine’s Day, remember that the river loves you, and so do all of us at the Urban Rivers office!