RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF JULY 13, 2023
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Urban Rivers
Body
WHEREAS, Urban Rivers is dedicated to transforming urban waterways into wildlife sanctuaries; and
WHEREAS, Urban Rivers recognizes that access to green space is not only an important environmental issue, but also a critical social issue, and strives to create welcoming environments where all people can connect with nature; and
WHEREAS, in conceiving the Wild Mile in the North Branch Canal section of the Chicago River, the world’s first mile-long floating eco-park, Urban Rivers has planted more than fifty native plant species and increased the presence of wildlife, ranging from mussels to herons. The floating platform, gardens, and walkways form a park that focuses on wildlife, while giving at-risk species a chance to return to the Chicago River, such as freshwater mussels, one of the most endangered species in the world. While the park is not yet complete, so far, Urban Rivers has helped reproduce more than 1,500 mussels, which improve the water quality by filter feeding and removing pollutants; and
WHEREAS, the project has also provided an accessible public space open for the community. As a public park with an ADA-accessible boardwalk, the Wild Mile has hosted school field trips, tours, and a variety of programs including sunset yoga and workshops on gardening and birdwatching; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has also participated with Urban Rivers in studying the effects of the floating gardens, conducting fish surveys and macroinvertebrate collections; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, Urban Rivers partnered with the Shedd Aquarium to complete two floating garden projects along the South Branch of the Chicago River. One of the projects is located at Bubbly Creek and features a floating wetland of native plants helping to filter and clean the water while providing an oasis for both wildlife and the community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and our staff, do hereby recognize Urban Rivers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Urban Rivers.
Dated: July 13, 2023