Want to jump in the Chicago River? Here's your chance

Why it matters: The event gives regular Chicagoans a rare chance to take a dip in what was once considered one of the most polluted waterways in the country.

Yes, but: It's not anymore.

Context: The Chicago River has gone from essentially an open sewer to clean enough to host a sanctioned swim — even though swimming unsupervised is still prohibited.

Details: Sign up, pay the $500 fee — which benefits ALS research and youth swimming — and on Sept. 18 at 10am, cross "jumping in the Chicago River" off your bucket list.

Flashback: The Big Jump was first held in 2017, when Friends of the Chicago River led a jump in Chinatown to celebrate progress in restoring the river.

What they're saying: "The Chicago River belongs to all of Chicago, and The Big Jump is a powerful way to celebrate how far our city has come," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a release.

If you go: Sign up here. If you want to take part in the Chicago River Swim, that's a separate registration process.

• The city has expanded the field from 500 to 750 qualified swimmers, reopening registration for a limited number of participants in the one- and two-mile events.
• The swim, which will feature several former Olympians, takes place Sunday, Sept. 20.