Over 3,000 Volunteers Propel Largest Chicago River Cleanup Effort to Date

The banks of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers witnessed a surge of activism this past Saturday, as the annual Chicago River Cleanup event saw a record-breaking turnout of volunteers. In a demonstration of growing environmental consciousness and community involvement, over 3,000 individuals dedicated their morning to remove trash, invasive plants, and restore open spaces along more than 150 miles of river systems. This year's effort marked the largest mobilization in the event's multi-decade history.

Emboldened by the spirit of collective action, the volunteers, hailing from both the city and the suburbs, addressed 92 cleanup spots. "It’s kind of a new passion for me. I have some young people in my life who are interested in the clean water supply just doing different projects at school and it peaked my interest. So the youth inspired me," Amaris Hill, a volunteer at the event, told WGN-TV. Their labor contributes to a long-term vision that has, over 33 years, systematically enhanced the river ecosystem once plagued by pollution and neglect.

The Friends of the Chicago River, the organization behind the Chicago River Cleanup, noted the stark contrast between today's riverbanks teeming with recreational activities and the past state of the rivers – fenced off and laden with waste. John Quail from the organization highlighted the transformation, "We’ve done so much as a region and a community and groups like Friends to bring recreation back. So you see canoes and kayaks and people on paddleboards and people fishing, really just to make the river a second waterfront for the city," he said in an interview with WGN-TV.

Marking the event as a success story for conservation efforts, the organizers shared insights into the ecological recovery currently underway. According to a FOX 32 Chicago report, Margaret Frisbie, the executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, said, "There’s so much less garbage than there used to be," attributing the improvement to a decrease in large-scale, intentional dumping. Frisbie also mentioned, "What we’re seeing is food-related garbage and a lot of plastic," estimating that much of the rubbish collected consisted of plastic debris carried by the wind.