CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago River was painted a bright shade of green Saturday after Mayor Lori Lightfoot reversed an earlier decision not to color the waterway for the second year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Crews on boats began dumping green dye into the riverfront around 7am after Lightfoot gave permission to dye it prior to St. Patrick’s Day, surprising pedestrians with the vibrant scene.
Chicago residents Lori Jones and Mike Smith surveyed the green waters and said they were happy that the 1962 tradition was resumed this year.
“We’re glad Mayor Lightfoot decided to continue with this tradition because we really missed it last year, as did a lot of other things in 2020,” said Jones, 59, the Chicago Tribune.
Last year, Lightfoot abruptly canceled the 2020 parades and painting the river just days before they were due to take place in the early days of the pandemic. She has again called off the parades this year due to the ongoing pandemic and said the river would not be painted again.
But a Lightfoot spokesman said in a statement that the city chose to “honor the long tradition” and allowed its partners, the Chicago Plumbers Union Local 130, to paint the river.
The event was not announced in advance “to keep crowds to a minimum and prevent them from congregating,” the spokesman said. “In addition, the Riverwalk is closed on Saturdays and Chicago residents who want to see the river during the day are urged to ‘keep it moving’ and celebrate safely and responsibly.”