A remarkable transformation is underway along the North Branch of the Chicago River, after being channelized and brutalized for well over a century.
Nate Berg reports for Fast Company on the transformation of the North Branch of the Chicago River, where “smoke-spewing factories,” barges, and conditions similar to a sewer are giving way to “long linear patches of wetlands,” docks, and a floating walkway.
“This is the first 400 feet of what’s being called the Wild Mile—a grassroots reinvigoration of a stretch of the river that has been off-limits to nearly all forms of life for decades,” writes Berg.
The project, led by the nonprofit Urban Rivers, is planned to revitalize a mile of the river into a floating wetland and trail along the river where it winds around Goose Island. “Thanks to a tax on urban development that helps fund open space, the project has received a significant amount of public funding to get started,” according to Berg.
More habitat restoration and design details are included in the source article. Berg also suggests that the Wild Mile can be a model for other river revitalization projects around the country. More images of the planned project are available on the project website.
FULL STORY: From industrial waste to floating wetlands, how Chicago’s Wild Mile is reinventing the urban river
Embracing Rivers as a Vehicle for Urban Revitalization
A new study includes urban rivers as a potential powerful amenity for economic development and revitalization. The city of Chicago has already taken note.
A 'Wild Mile' on the Chicago River Utilizes Floating Gardens
An effort is underway to reintroduce a natural habitats along a stretch of postindustrial Chicago River canal-scape. Floating garden modules are being used to attract species back to the area.
Mayor Emanuel Wants to Open More of the Chicago River to the Public
Plans to double the length of publicly accessible riverfront will be included in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's State of the City address tonight.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland