Cities can become internationally renowned for swimability, which has direct economic and social benefits from quality of life to public health, spiritual connection, workplace productivity and tourism.

As the cultural anchor of the Chicago Riverwalk, the Bridgehouse Museum welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every season to engage with exhibits about the history and future of the Chicago-Calumet River system.

The special event starts at 5 p.m. Thursday, August 8 and is hosted by Friends’ Otter Society, which is comprised of individuals and businesses that make a generous annual commitment to Friends of the Chicago River to support the long-term commitment it takes to heal the Chicago-Calumet River system and make it accessible to all.

Scientists from across the continent are documenting the massive ecological contributions by beavers.

To host the litter free event, Friends teamed up with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, Village of Crestwood Mayor Ken Klein, and Worth Township Supervisor Patricia Joan Murphy.

The feature story describes the museum as “A classroom for learning about the Chicago River” and “A testament to Chicago’s incredible bridges.”

Our Chicago River Schools Network trains Chicago-area teachers in river education, inspires curiosity and stewardship in students, and fosters the next generation of environmental leaders to take action towards a healthy, climate-resilient river system for all.

The free speaker series takes place every other Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. through August 8 on the outdoor plaza of our Bridgehouse Museum.

Teams from Friends and Imani Village met at Big Marsh Park on the southeast side of Chicago to learn from each other, expand their skills, and connect around positive visions of the Calumet-area environment and community.

Your responses will help us understand how to best get people involved in the project and what information people want to know as we explore potential future planting areas.