Events

The Chicago River, like many urban waterways, has been significantly altered over the decades to support industry and commerce, at the expense of nature and public access. At Goose Island, along the river’s north branch, the opportunity to create a new, river-centric park is growing as ‘The Wild Mile’, a mile long former industrial canal that is being transformed into a floating urban wildlife oasis. Using floating walkways flanked by man-made wetlands, we can take advantage of underutilized space, and help bring life back into the heart of the city, giving residents a chance to make new and meaningful connections to nature.

Phil is the Research Director at Urban Rivers, who’s work on the river started even before the non profit existed, assisting one of the co-founders with his master’s thesis work all the way back in 2013. His role at the organization is to investigate the ways in which artificial habitats support river ecosystems, and explore new methods to enhance restoration, even in very urban environments. Phil is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northeastern Illinois University where he studied ecology, and has previously worked for the Illinois Natural History Survey, Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago Botanic Garden.