From April 22nd through April 27th, SOM, together with the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Urban Rivers, OH Community Partners, Omni Ecosystems, Tetra Tech, and d’Escoto, are hosting “Wild Mile Week” in celebration of Earth Day. Through a series of workshops, hands-on activities, and other events, Chicagoans and visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Chicago River’s urban ecosystem. This is the first year of the event, which is inspired by the Wild Mile project.
Located on the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River along the east side of Goose Island, the SOM-designed Wild Mile will create a new environment for habitat, education, and recreation on the waterway. Designed as a 17-acre floating eco-park, the Wild Mile advances a community-led vision of renewed urban ecology that helps strengthen neighborhood connectivity, generate cleaner water, and support more vibrant ecosystems. With a series of floating gardens, forests with public walkways, kayak docks, and other amenities, the project is designed to restore the river as a public trust.
Wild Mile Week
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Wild Mile Book Display
Near North Branch Library, 310 W. Division
April 15 – April 27, 2019
Visit the Near North Branch of the Chicago Public Library to learn more about the Chicago River through a display of Wild Mile-related books.
Earth Day River Clean Up with Groupon
600 W. Chicago Ave Lobby
April 22, 2019
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Help pick up litter on land along the Wild Mile. Supplies will be provided.
Whole Foods Social with We All Live Here
Whole Foods Market, 1550 N. Kingsbury St.
April 23, 2019
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Join us to learn about the Wild Mile and help create an art installation.
Wild Mile Community Meeting
Cornerstone Center, Leslie Hall, 1111 N. Wells St.
April 25, 2019
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for a community meeting focused on the Wild Mile Chicago Framework Plan. See designs for the project, contribute your ideas, and learn how to get involved in the implementation of the vision that you’ve helped create.
Chicago River Boat Tour
Chicago Water Taxi-North Avenue
April 26, 2019
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join us for a free tour of the Chicago River to learn about the Wild Mile. We’ll tour the North Branch from North Avenue down to the Main Branch and Riverwalk.
Wild Mile Canoe Trip with Kayak Chicago
Kayak Chicago, 1501 N. Magnolia Ave.
April 27, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join us for a tour of the Wild Mile and the existing floating wetland installations in Kayak Chicago’s 15-person canoe.
Hands-on Garden Activity with REI and Urban Rivers
REI 905 W. Eastman St.
April 27, 2019
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Get your hands dirty as you learn about native plants and river ecology. We’ll get an up-close look at the Urban River floating wetland rafts, making seed bombs and launching them into the Wild Mile. The event will be located on the Riverwalk at REI’s newest Chicago location.
The Original Earth Day River Cruise with Wendella and Friends of the Chicago River
Wendella Boats, 400 N. Michigan Ave.
April 22, 2019
11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
For more information and to purchase tickets for the River Cruise, click here.
For more information about the Wild Mile, click here.
For questions, contact [email protected]