Chicago River Clean Up Day 2024: Lemont

Photos by Molly Hebda Photography

Let’s make the world a little bit better, starting with our own backyard.

On Saturday, May 11, from 9am – 12pm join Lemont Downtown for Chicago River Day Clean Up at Centennial Trail and Canal Bank Road. This free and family-friendly event brings thousands of volunteers together to build community around their local waterway; to remove litter that harms people, wildlife, and water quality; and to take collective action towards a Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River system.

Volunteers will come together after the event to swap stories and celebrate their hard work at the Official Friends of the Chicago River After Parties at Blue Island Beer Company and Burning Bush Brewery from 12-3pm.

Chicago River Day is an outdoor event located at over 70 sites including city parks, forest preserves, school yards, and businesses along the banks of the Chicago-Calumet River system and its tributaries. At most sites, volunteers will pick up trash, and in select locations, volunteers may help with additional stewardship activities like removing invasive species and trail maintenance, depending on the needs of the site.

Volunteer

This clean-up event is perfect for friends, family, students, or community organizations.

Volunteers who register before Friday, May 3, 2024 receive a Chicago River Day T-shirt highlighting this year’s featured creature, the Black-crowned Night Heron. Registration for Chicago River Day is open until a site reaches capacity. Children eight and up are eligible to volunteer. Younger family members are welcome to observe provided they are supervised by an adult. Advance registration is requested.

Have a question? Visit Friends' Chicago River Day FAQ page for more information about how to best prepare for the day and for general information.