Expanding access to urban nature: Floating gardens as equitable and inclusive blue-green infrastructure in the Chicago River

This study examines the social dimensions of Urban Rivers’ Free Kayak Days at the Bubbly Creek Floating Gardens in Chicago, Illinois. Floating gardens are a form of blue-green infrastructure that provide ecological benefits, including nutrient removal, habitat creation, and shoreline stabilization, while also offering recreational and educational opportunities. Guided by environmental justice scholarship, our interdisciplinary team conducted participant observation to evaluate whether Urban Rivers’ Freek Kayak Days effectively engaged residents from surrounding marginalized communities. Four themes emerged: (1) access and inclusion, highlighting reduced financial barriers but ongoing challenges related to safety perceptions, cultural relevance, and physical accessibility; (2) community engagement and awareness, emphasizing the importance of inter-organizational collaboration and targeted outreach; (3) environmental perceptions and education, showing how kayaking fosters place-based environmental learning despite lingering negative views of river health; and (4) social and recreational dynamics, illustrating the program’s ability to build social cohesion and promote mental well-being.