The second phase of the Wild Mile has been completed and opened at 905 W Eastman Street within the Near North Side. While it may have a land address, the public park which first opened in 2021 is completely floating along the banks of the north branch canal of the Chicago River behind the flagship REI store. Now non-profit Urban Rivers is celebrating its first expansion.
Chicago YIMBY checked in on the innovative Wild Mile at 905 W Eastman Street near Goose Island after its first operational summer. Located directly behind the Lincoln Park REI store near the Big Deahl development that is currently under construction, the small park is only part of a larger proposal aiming at reinventing the Chicago River’s north branch. Nonprofit Urban Rivers is leading the charge for the SOM designed masterplan, of which the park is only the first phase opening late last year with this summer being its first full season.
The first phase of the ambitious Wild Mile floating park has been completed behind the REI store at 905 W Eastman Street near Goose Island. The project has been a work in progress since 2003 with hopes to grow a total of 17 acres of floating amenities and nature sites. Started and led by the nonprofit group Urban Rivers, the master plan for the eco-park comes from the local office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill who began working with the group in 2016.