Will Cook County News

By Claude Martinez.

Crestwood — The 34th Annual Chicago River Day clean-up is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at more than 80 sites throughout Chicago and the surrounding Chicagoland area, encouraging residents to help clean up river systems in their communities.

At the Crestwood location, Mayor Ken Klein, MWRD President Kari K. Steele, MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn, and MWRD Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood will be on site to help lead cleanup efforts at the Crestwood Cal-Sag River Crossing, located at 4820 Cal Sag Road, behind Aldi.

The Will Cook County News has proudly covered this event for the past two years and has seen many local residents put in hard work to clean the area.

“The Chicago-Calumet River system is healthier today than it has been in over 150 years,” the office of Vice President Theresa Flynn of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) wrote to WCCN. “However, litter and pollution continue to threaten wildlife, public health, and local communities. Volunteers play a critical role in removing debris, supporting ecosystems, and strengthening community connection to the river.”

Although the cleanup area does not directly touch the river due to a natural barrier of trees and hedges, wind can carry litter into the Cal-Sag Channel, as seen in last year’s WCCN news coverage.

Volunteers are encouraged to register early due to limited space. Participants who register before May 1, 2026, will receive a Chicago River Day T-shirt.

“Ongoing efforts by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), in partnership with community organizations like Friends of the Chicago River and regional initiatives like Chicago River Day, have led to significant improvements in water quality.”

“The river system now supports nearly 80 species of fish, including sensitive species such as the blue-spotted salamander, an indicator of improved ecosystem health. Continued progress depends on a combination of daily water reclamation work, strategic partnerships, and community action like river cleanups,” the office of Vice President Theresa Flynn of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District wrote to WCCN.

Vice President Flynn has hosted the cleanup at the Cal-Sag River Crossing for the past two years and looks forward to continuing the tradition of keeping these waters clean.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-river-day-2026-crestwood-tickets-1984584442491?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

To view all River Day cleanup locations, visit here: https://www.chicagoriver.org/get-involved/volunteer/chicago-river-day

Copyright © 2026 Will Cook County News. All rights reserved.

---

To read and watch coverage from the past two years, click the links below.

2025 WCCN Article: https://willcookcountynews.com/2025/05/11/river-crossing-clean-up-day-in-crestwood-2025/

2024 WCCN Article: https://willcookcountynews.com/2024/07/22/river-crossing-clean-up-day-in-crestwood/

---

For more news follow WCCN on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube @ Will Cook County News or on X @Will Cook News.