A Bold Plan to Swim in Chicago's Rivers by 2030

Chicago Mayor Rah Emanuel and the Metropolitan Planning Council announced the "Our Great Rivers" plan this week.

1 minute read

August 19, 2016, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Chicago River

Richard Cavelleri / Shutterstock

Good urban planning can make you smile," begins an article by Blair Kamin reviewing the "Our Great Rivers" plan, recently released by the Metropolitan Planning Council.

The 41-page plan "comes with a headline-generating goal," writes Kamin: "Make the now-polluted rivers so clean that people will be able to swim in them by 2030." 

Among the plan's "bold strokes," as described by Kamin, an idea "to create parks in rivers, not just alongside them":

Non-navigable stretches of the rivers, including the South Side's notorious Bubbly Creek and the north branch of the Chicago River east of Goose Island, could be remade into "instream parks" planted with wetlands vegetation and dotted with wildlife.

In addition to Kamin's review of the rivers plan, Leonor Vivanco provides a traditional news report, describing results of the 18-month planning process that produced "Our Great Rivers."

Wednesday, August 17, 2016 in Chicago Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

A curb extension at the end of a block landscaped with small shrubs and pink flowers in residential neighborhood.

Nine Ways to Use Curb Space That Aren’t Parking

California’s new daylighting law bans parking within 20 feet of crosswalks. How can cities best use this space?

June 1 - CalBike

White accessory dwelling unit in backyard of small grey home in Seattle, Washington.

ADUs for Sale? San Diego Could Legalize Backyard Condos

As one of 25 proposed amendments, San Diego may soon allow accessory dwelling units to be bought and sold as individual homes.

June 1 - KPBS

View of mostly full parking lot next to multi-story red brick buildings with modern glass skyscraper in background in downtown Dallas, Texas.

Dallas Ditches Parking Minimums in 14-1 Vote

The sweeping city council decision removes set parking requirements from developments downtown, near transit, small businesses and more.

June 1 - Strong Towns

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.