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

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Portland Council Tentatively Approves Sidewalk Repair Plan
The proposal would address sidewalk needs in Portland’s District 1 and District 4.

Expanding Access to Design Education at Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technologies program highlights the role of community colleges in preparing nontraditional students for careers in architectural and construction technologies.

Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions
Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions