The Chicago River is a 156-mile body of water that serves as the lifeblood of the region and Chicagoland residents. Many homes, businesses, and wildlife rely on the health of the river to perform basic tasks and maintain their own health. To aid in these daily activities, Friends of the Chicago River has made it their mission to improve the health of the Chicago River system, making it a beautiful, continuous, and easily accessible corridor of open space in the Chicago region. It’s the Friends’ belief that the river can be both ecologically healthy and a catalyst for community revitalization.

On May 13, Cotter team member supported the Friends’ mission during the Chicago River Day. The event allowed community members to participate in an effort to improve the quality of the Chicago River, which includes its areas. The event also allowed Cotter to express our appreciation for a resource that is so integrated in our community, but also build greater relationships with those around us due to our shared identities as Chicago inhabitants. Those that participated can truly say they feel they have developed a greater awareness of how we can support organization like Friends’ to help create a liter-free Chicago-Calumet River system.

Click here to learn more about the Friends of the Chicago River and see upcoming opportunities to get involved.

Pictured: Borut Vujic and family

Pictured: Jordan Nunn and fellow volunteers