A public swim of the Chicago River is being planned for this September, the first organized river swim in nearly a century. Hosted by the charity organization A Long Swim, the event intends to bring Chicagoans together for a one-of-a-kind athletic experience while generating funds for good causes.
On September 22, the Chicago River Swim plans to welcome 500 participating swimmers to dive into the Chicago River as part of a charity event to benefit ALS research, according to the event’s site. Proceeds from the event will be allocated towards swimming lessons for at-risk youth through Chicagoland community organizations.
Swimmers will have the opportunity to complete one of two courses, a long course and a short one. The long course will begin at 6:45 a.m. at 55 West Wacker Dr. and encompass two counterclockwise loops before ending at the Clark Street Bridge.
The short course will begin at 8:00 a.m. at 11 West Wacker Dr and encompass one counterclockwise loop before also ending at the Clark Street Bridge.
More than 100 years ago, the City of Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River to draw in fresh water from Lake Michigan and purify pollution from the waterway. Since then, the river has made a significant environmental turnaround and is currently the cleanest it has ever been, according to River Swim organizers.
A robust water quality assessment plan has been established for the event to ensure the safety of all swimmers. The River Swim will work with experts from local organizations including the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) to monitor water conditions.
The river will be closed to all vessel traffic during the event. Interested swimmers can apply online and must meet a list of requirements to be selected for the event.
The River Swim is awaiting permits from City Council before it can officially be approved. According to Block Club Chicago, events officials are currently in talks with city leaders to obtain the required permits.
Visit the Chicago River Swim site for more information and applications.
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