Can a project like the Wild Mile be implemented in other cities?

Yes, absolutely. Most urban waterways have industrialized in a very similar fashion, and therefore feature very similar infrastructure. These seawalls, artificially straight channels, and dredged bottoms are exactly the kind of issue our floating wetlands aim to address. The ecological component will vary regionally, and will likely require experimentation. The physical design, however, is designed to function in nearly any geography.

Where does Urban Rivers secure its funding?

Over the years, our funding has come from a variety of sources. Initial installations were largely crowdfunded, and further supported by corporate or other private contributions. The majority of the Wild Mile infrastructure has so far been funded by the City of Chicago’s Open Space Impact Fees (OSIF). OSIF is a fee applied to certain new residential developments that goes towards building new open spaces, which the river is a natural outlet for creating new open space efficiently. Other initiatives and installations have been funded by partners such as the Shedd Aquarium, or from grants like the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s Chi-Cal River Fund, or other federal appropriations.

Our operations extend far beyond physical installation, as we activate the space with programs, volunteerism, and research. Funding for these projects has come largely from private sources - a combination of corporate and foundational. As OSIF funds are dependent on new developments and therefore fluctuate, the completion of the Wild Mile may increasingly depend on private contributions. 

How much do floating gardens and walkways cost?

In general, floating habitat elements are much cheaper than traditional river restoration work or purchasing and developing typical park spaces. Some costs are predictable, while others can vary significantly depending on the context. Our first floating gardens in 2017 were 1200 sq ft, which we installed for a total of $75,000. Our most recent set of gardens at River Park cost around $250,000 for 2000 sq ft. The range in costs can be attributed to the type of gardens purchased, complexity of anchoring system, and increased logistics and material costs over time. To truly get the most out of these floating habitats, however, long term cost estimates should not only include installation, but also maintenance, research, and community programming centered around the project. At the Wild Mile, in 2021 we installed  ~12,000 sq ft of gardens, with ~400 linear feet of floating walkway, for $1.6m. The most recent section of the Wild Mile installed in 2024, will cost a total of $1.7m for a roughly similarly sized stretch. When all is said and done, we anticipate that the full vision of the Wild Mile should end up requiring about $50 million to complete.

What permits are necessary for the installation of a project like the Wild Mile?

The Wild Mile installation requires permits from many parties. The US Army Corps of Engineers oversees all navigable waterways in the US and therefore getting their approval is likely the first step needed. Other parties needed for our Chicago projects include the Chicago Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and permission from surrounding property owners who are responsible for their section of seawall. 

Permitting requirements differ vastly between municipalities and countries. These permits can take a very long time to acquire - years, in the case of Urban Rivers’ pilot projects.

Can the ecological benefits of the Wild Mile be quantified?

Yes, although it is important to understand that the Chicago River system has been improving steadily over the years, and so when we analyze impacts created by a relatively small set of wetlands in a large river system, we must focus on which things the wetlands impact most directly. Our work and the work of our partners has been covered in multiple publications and are the subject of many ongoing research initiatives, which you can learn more about here. These research areas include water chemistry, macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity, fish movement, and more. Community/citizen science also comprises a large portion of our ongoing work, which we consider a valuable community outreach initiative. These efforts are not only helping to establish a baseline, but can also help other researchers determine how new habitat types in Chicago can be woven into the larger ecological context of the region.

Who supplies the floating wetlands?

Our supplier is BioMatrix Water, a Scotland-based company. We have worked with Biomatrix Water since our initial 2016 pilot islands. Given our physical and design parameters, we have found that their product in general is the most cost effective at providing the greatest amount of diverse native plant growth while using the least amount of un-natural material.

Who supplies the plants?

We partner with the Chicago Botanic Garden, who provide expertise, and many supplemental and replacement plants which they grow on site. We source our seedling plants from a variety of sources, including companies like Possibility Place, Spence, Prairie Moon, Taylor Creek, Woody Warehouse, Pizzo & Associates, and others which specialize in plants native to the Chicago region. 

Can Urban Rivers build a Wild Mile in MY city?

Great question! We can help. A project of the Wild Mile’s scale requires extensive community outreach and field work, which is best executed by those with boots on the ground. Our small staff of 4 is currently based in Chicago, but we’re excited to help projects around the world get their start. If you have questions that are specific to your city, please reach out to us using the form below! It will help us a lot if you come to us with good, specific locations, lists of relevant parties including your city or parks system, and ideas for potential funders.