SOM and urban rivers enliven the chicago river with a floating eco-park

first phase of the ‘wild mile’ opens to the public

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) joined forces with the nonprofit group Urban Rivers to build the first phase of a floating eco-park in the Chicago river dubbed the ‘Wild Mile’. Composed of meandering wooden walkways and lush greenery, the 139 sqm project serves as both a regenerative urban ecosystem that reintroduces wildlife to the industrialized canal and a public space promoting education, recreation, and stronger community bonds.

Initiated in 2016 and completed in 2021, the eco-park was officially open for use in June 2022. The next phase will see the addition of a 122-meter-long eco-waterfront ‘with a series of floating gardens, forests with public walkways, kayak docks, and other amenities […] designed to restore the river as a public trust,’ writes SOM. 

all images © Dave Burk 

restoring biodiversity, uplifting social connectivity 

To restore biodiversity within that strip of the Chicago River, the team at Urban Rivers strategically laid out a planting design simulating a riparian ecology. Jointly with a Chicago Botanic Garden specialist, the nonprofit group incorporated 60 native plants that thrive in water environments, as well as a selection of flora targeting pollination and bird-nesting (namely marsh blazing star, American water-willow, and buttonbush). 

In parallel, visitors can enjoy kayak tours along the river organized by the Shedd Aquarium. During each ride, they learn about regenerative processes, like bioremediation and reoxygenation, enabled by the eco-park’s planting scheme.

the first phase of the ‘Wild Mile’ eco-park opened in June 2022 

Complementing the landscape scheme is the sculptural and modular walkway built by SOM (see more here) as a zigzagging composition of aluminum frames and dock floats supporting the wooden paths made of Kebony, a chemically modified timber. The walkway will be replicated in the upcoming construction phase.

Beside its ecological value, the ‘Wild Mile’ project offers a solid social program laid out for the Chicago community. ‘Making the most of its proximity to more than 40 schools and academic institutions, the Wild Mile incorporates rich educational and community programming. These include a volunteer-led and technology-driven initiative, River Rangers, which recruits ‘citizen scientists’ to document and provide regular reports on reintroduced plants and wildlife. [Ultimately] ‘the project has evolved into a collaboration with the City of Chicago, O-H Community Partners, Near North Unity Program, Omni Ecosystems, Tetra Tech, and local community members providing input central to its goals, objectives, and priorities,’ concludes SOM. 

zigzagging wooden pathways mimicking water flow 

the eco-park offers kayak tours organized by the Shedd Aquarium 

top view 

project info:

name: Wild Mile

type: Floating eco-park 

location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

completion year: 2021

opening date: June 2022 

site area: 68,797 sqm 

first phase area: ± 139 sqm

client: City Of Chicago – Department Of Planning & Development

planning and construction: SOM | @skidmoreowingsmerrill, Urban Rivers | @urbanriv

main collaborators: Omni Ecosystems, Near North Unity Program,TetraTech, O-H Community Partners

photography: Dave Burk | @daveburk