Dear Neighbors,

As you may know, for the past few decades the east riverbank between Berteau and Montrose has been managed by Riverbank Neighbors under a lease agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District through Neighborspace.  We are a volunteer organization of people from your community and we invite your participation and support. 

This spring we will be continuing our long tradition of conducting prescribed burns of the prairie ecosystem along the riverbank at Berteau.  Permits have been granted from the EPA, and persons trained and experienced in safely conducting burns will be on hand.  

Fire is necessary to maintain our fire-evolved ecosystems. Fire suppresses weeds. It clears thatch build-up and provides opportunities for native seeds to sprout. Fire darkens the soil, warming it in the sunshine; and the resulting ash liberates nutrients for plant use.  Healthy prairies store tremendous amounts of carbon in their extensive root systems. 

The exact date(s) of the burn is subject to weather conditions to maximize the success of the burn and minimize any inconvenience. Persons with medical conditions, who would like to be notified before we burn so as to minimize their exposure can sign up for our notification list at www.bit.ly/4aQ5h6i 

We welcome neighbors and friends to witness this historic process from a safe distance, and to visit the riverbank often to witness the beauty of nature as spring life blossoms along the riverpath. 

– Riverbank Neighbors

Riverbank Neighbors is a project in Chicago. Neighbors who came together to clean up and tend the gardens of the riverbank of the Chicago River, also found they shared a calling towards larger goals of Environmental Justice.

We host regular work days you can find out about on our calendar or in our newsletter.

The riverbank in our neighborhood was eroded and full of trash before neighbors started to work together to clean it up and make it accessible.

The ancient ecosystem was all but wiped out on our land, but now the river path offers an experience of natural beauty. Our community leaders are stewards of the ecosystem, with deep ties to the North Branch Restoration Project. We gather seeds of precious, rare plants and spread them in protected areas. Workdays include maintaining the paths as education and work centered around maintaining this example of our ancient native Chicago ecosystem.

Countless volunteer groups have assisted in these efforts. Many many people have contributed to the beauty and we thank all of them.

We seek kindred spirits, who like to garden, gather seeds and learn the nuances of the ecosystem.

We invite artists, students, and community of all ages to come to our events, find a place for themselves in the project.

As we move into a new year of stewardship, there is much to be done – from rebuilding fences to trimming aggressive plants to gathering seeds. As climate change alters the conditions of the ecosystem, our role as stewards is to help the ecosystem respond and adapt to those changes.

Learn more about our management plan – and help donate to support our work through our GoFundMe!

Riverbank Neighbors has maintained a newsletter for ~ 20 years. Join our email list below for neighborhood updates, information on upcoming work days and more ways to get involved: