Wild Mile Chicago Water Safari

The Wild Mile project will create a new environment on the Chicago River that integrates habitat, education, and recreation. The 17-acre floating eco-park advances a vision of community-led urban ecological renewal. The project also strengthens community connectivity, provides cleaner water, and supports a more vibrant ecosystem. The site occupies the east side of Goose Island, along the North Branch Canal and Turning Basin. Since the Chicago Central Area Plan was adopted in 2003, the area has been envisioned as an ecological park. In 2017, the Chicago nonprofit Urban Rivers partnered with SOM to build a 1,500-square-foot floating garden as the first step toward realizing the Wild Mile vision. Since then, the project has grown into a collaboration with the City of Chicago, strategic planning consultancy OH Community Partners, the Near North community center, and numerous other stakeholders. The floating eco-park uses modular floating platforms planted with native vegetation to create habitat for fish, birds, and insects while providing public access to the water. Walkways, kayak launches, and educational stations make the riverfront accessible and informative for visitors. The project demonstrates how urban waterways can be transformed from industrial infrastructure into thriving ecological and recreational spaces, engaging communities in the restoration of their local environment.