Is It Safe To Swim In The Chicago River? episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 12, 2025 · 17 MIN

Is It Safe To Swim In The Chicago River?

from The Block Club Chicago Podcast · host Block Club Chicago, Chris Anchor, Jon Hansen

For the first time in 98 years, the Chicago River will host an open water swim event early this fallThe event — which was approved by the city after officials denied it a permit last year — takes place Sept. 21.But is it safe to swim in the river?Chris Anchor from the Cook County Forest Preserve weighs in.  Host - Jon HansenGuest - Chris AnchorRead More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HEREWho we areBlock Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.Ground-level coverageOur neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this  ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a  neighborhood.Stories that matter to you — every daySince our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans. We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 12, 2025

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For the first time in 98 years, the Chicago River will host an open water swim event early this fall The event — which was approved by the city after officials denied it a permit last year — takes place Sept. 21. But is it safe to swim in the river? Chris Anchor from the Cook County Forest Preserve weighs in.

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Is It Safe To Swim In The Chicago River?

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