After nearly a century, Chicago hosted its first sanctioned river swim on Sunday. Hundreds of swimmers participated in a mile-long race in the downtown Loop area. The event marks a significant milestone in the river's cleanup, a decades-long effort involving environmental groups and city officials. Improved water quality, thanks to initiatives like the Clean Water Act and the Deep Tunnel project, has revitalized the river's ecosystem, attracting various wildlife. While some Chicagoans remain skeptical, the swim symbolizes the city's evolving relationship with its once-polluted waterway.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.