Hundreds plunge into Chicago River in city’s first open-water swim in nearly a century
chicago.suntimes.com
About 300 swimmers participated in the event, marveling at the clean water and festive atmosphere. Event organizers say they'll donate $100,000 to ALS research and $50,000 to fund swim lessons for about 2,000 youths at the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center.

Swimming in the river used to be a key facet of Chicago life, but by the 1920s, sewage and industrial runoff had made the river unsafe to swim in. According to event organizers, official swim events in the Chicago River ended in 1926.

Event organizers said the Chicago River is now at its cleanest levels on record, the result of a concerted effort to clean up, improve wastewater management and push for stricter water-quality standards.

Maintaining the health of waterways in urban areas contributes to the public health and wellness of cities, and it reduces extreme heat risks from climate change, said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River.

The advocacy group, founded in 1979, has long worked to protect and restore the Chicago River, for example pushing for discharge from water treatment plants to be disinfected before being released into the river, Frisbie said.