Floating Eco-Park Comes To Chicago
By Jenny FriedlandFloating Eco-Park Comes To Chicago
By Jenny FriedlandWhat if you could kayak through a park? A new project in Chicago is making that possible. Wild Mile Chicago will be a floating eco-park located on the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River. Slated to be completed in 2020, the eco-park will include floating gardens, wetlands and walkways. Earlier this week, representatives from Shedd Aquarium and Urban Rivers — a group of ecologists, entrepreneurs and public servants — headed down to the North Branch Canal to build a 560-square-foot floating wetland featuring native plant species and spaces for animals. After assembling the wetland on land, they pushed it into the river. Joining us to discuss Wild Mile Chicago are Nick Wesley, co-founder of Urban Rivers, and Jackie Majdov, manager of conservation stewardship at Shedd Aquarium. Their organizations are among those spearheading the project, and they tell us how Wild Mile Chicago will support increased biodiversity and recreational opportunities for Chicagoans.