Are Floating Gardens The Way To A Cleaner, More Beautiful Chicago River?
By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 28, 2016 4:40PM
Whether we’re cracking jokes about how the Chicago River necessitates a dye job in order to register water’s natural shade or we’re trolling the notoriously not-so-clean river with graffiti of the Simpsons’ three-eyed fish, Blinky, Chicago has a pretty caustic relationship with the unsightly and harmful pollution of its major waterway. And while the city takes ambitious steps to remedy the issue (the downtown Riverwalk, the Great Rivers Chicago cleanup initiative), a local non-profit is working on their own inspired response—one smaller in scope but with potential for great implications.
The concept is fairly simple—a system of floating gardens installed along portions of the Chicago River bank—but it addresses a multitude of concerns, both ecological and cosmetic. A variety of plants, native to Illinois wetlands, take root on heavy-duty, weather-resistant base structures; and as the plant life grows, it helps restore the marine habitat, provides sanctuary for animals, keeps the river clean and, of course, beautifies the space.
Urban Rivers
“Urban waterways have been overlooked in last century,” Nick Wesley, a researcher with Urban Rivers, the group spearheading the floating gardens, told Chicagoist. “Since commercial transportation has waned within the last several decades, the lack of use brings potential for something new.”
The non-profit already has a pilot model in the waters, on the east side of Goose Island, just outside Whole Foods. (The grocer, along with other partners, has provided partial funds.) But the test base is only 5x10 feet. Now that the test run has proven positive—the group recently grew tomatoes along the barge using only water from the Chicago River—the group hopes to blow out the structure to 600 feet.
“Right now, the steel walls on the side of the river offer very little room for habitat. There’s no place for wildlife to do its job,” Wesley added. He pointed to similar projects in South Korea, England and Milwaukee as successful examples. “It will become even more prevalent and permanent in next five-to-ten years,” he said. “We’re building the playbook so it can be recreated in other waterway”—hopefully along other sections of the Chicago River, too, he said.
Just how large and effective the project is able to grow depends on what further grants and funds Urban Rivers is able to secure, Wesley said. So far the group has more than doubled an original Kickstarter goal of $10,000. They’ve secured permits from the Army Corp of Engineers, the Department of Natural Resources and the Coast Guard for the expansion and are seeking permission through CDOT now, as well. If all goes according to plan, the expanded installation will hit the water in May of next year.
Then, at least in some fashion, the great push to resuscitate the River will float on, in part, ahead of schedule.