River vs. Lake (Chicago: garden, move, money)

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

Aye, it's what makes the area around the river so notable.

Heya, does Chicago do anything with the river like San Antonio's Riverwalk?

They have begun to in the last several years but there isn't much over there. There are a few cafes and wine bars and then places to pick up bike and boat tours. It is a great place to sit and eat a sack up during the lunch hour though. The city was smart in trying to make it more like a Parisian promenade than some hopping nightlife center.

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/w...eEnumValue=199

and for photos: http://images.google.com/images?q=ch...ed=0CCYQsAQwBA

[Chi-town Native]

I think until the river offers more recreational possibilities than canoeing/kayaking for the hardcore "get out in nature" folks, it will be fairly unappreciated.

I've seen a river-pub try and make it work at Division and Elston for years, a buddy in the food industry tells me rats are a massive problem - this is what the river really needs, a destination or two (or three).

[Thepreacherswife]

Originally Posted by It'sAutomatic

The Chicago River outside of downtown is not a nice or fun destination at all.

The bike paths in Albany Park along the north branch and the paths and parks along the North Shore Channel are quite nice, not to mention the North Branch Trail that leads to the Botanical Garden.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

not to mention the North Branch Trail that leads to the Botanical Garden.

I ride this full trail a couple times a month in the warmer months and it is a phenomenal ride with some breathtaking vistas.

[ChiHiRiser]

The Chicago River is more of a creek compared to other midwestern rivers. Its also quite polluted with the sewer overflows going into it during heavy rains.

That being said I'm a transplant from another midwestern city (Cincy) and grew up right near a sewage treatment plant on the Ohio river. Even though it sounds gross I'm quite fond of living near a river, even if polluted.

If they can stop the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) via the TARP and start treating the sewage discharge with chlorine like every other big city I think there is great potential for the river.

[mikedoyleblogger]

The problem for the Chicago River in terms of riverwalks is that the few there are are not contiguous (downtown, bike paths in Albany Park on the NW side, Ping Tom park in Chinatown.) That said, the riverwalk on the south side of the river is complete now from State Street all the way east to Dusable Harbor (you can walk from State & Wacker to the lake, and all the way down to Museum Campus now without having to leave a ped/bike path or cross a street.) There aren't a lot of services along the way, but it's varied and very pleasant.

Still, many, many more homes abut Lake Michigan and it's hard to complete with 22 miles of lakefront parkland. Even with a San Antonio-style of riverwalk, I don't see how Chicago could ever become less associated with being located on the lake.

[OyCrumbler]

It seems like with all the different waterways weaving through Chicago, rivers and canal could be a great place for bougie fun development (with many more miles of "waterfront" development than is available on the lake).

Also, is there ever any ice skating on the waterways? Probably not, eh?

[SmartGXL]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

It seems like with all the different waterways weaving through Chicago, rivers and canal could be a great place for bougie fun development (with many more miles of "waterfront" development than is available on the lake).

Also, is there ever any ice skating on the waterways? Probably not, eh?

As cold as it does get here, the lake and the river do not freeze solid enough to skate or ice fish on them. Too dangerous. Although, we do have outdoor ice rinks (several of them) that safely allows that activity.

The lake does freeze up two or three times per year, but within a week it is melted off. And when it is frozen, it is usually frozen in pieces, like ice "floes" (sp?).

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by SmartGXL

As cold as it does get here, the lake and the river do not freeze solid enough to skate or ice fish on them. Too dangerous.

Tell that to the nut jobs that ice fish near Montrose and Belmont Harbors. I'm surprise more people don't fall in.

[Chi-town Native]

someone has to post this:

Daley to feds: 'Go swim in the Potomac' - Chicago Breaking News (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/06/daley-to-feds-go-swim-in-the-potomac.html - broken link)