City denies permit for ‘A Long Swim,’ citing safety questions

City officials have denied a permit for an open-water swimming event in the Chicago River due to safety concerns, they announced Friday.

As of April, “A Long Swim,” set for September 22 and intended to raise money for ALS research, had drawn more than 1,100 people hoping to navigate a loop course between State Street and Wolf Point. Organized swimming events in the river haven’t been authorized for more than a century, though many experts say the river is not as polluted as it once was.

The denial was rooted in “significant safety concerns” about “the proposed route and concentration of swimmers,” according to a written statement from the Chicago Department of Transportation.

On Wednesday, the City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation advanced an ordinance “requiring evaluation that athletic events do not present unreasonable risk to health of participants,” sponsored by Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd. A staff member for Reilly declined to answer if the ordinance intended to target the open-water swim.

City officials recognized the event’s “positive nature” and offered swim organizers an alternate route, according to the statement.

Swim organizer Doug McConnell didn’t immediately return a request for comment Friday.

Chicago Tribune’s Jake Sheridan contributed reporting.