Chicago River Swim organizers agree to relocate race to Ohio Street Beach in Lake Michigan in September citing safety concerns [Video]

CHICAGO (WLS) — The city has approved for the Chicago River swimming competition to happen in September, event organizers said.

Although the event will begin on the river, swimmers won’t actually get to swim through the heart of the city.

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Organizers with Chicago River Swim agreed with city officials to relocate to Ohio Street Beach and have athletes only swim in Lake Michigan.

CRS organizers said the main reason they changed the route was due to safety concerns.

Swimmers will meet at the riverwalk, board a boat and then begin the swim once they arrive to Ohio Street Beach.

“We had high hopes of swimming in the river this year, but we quickly learned the challenges involved in organizing a new event of this scale,” said Doug McConnell, founder of A Long Swim and the organizer of CRS. “We’re using this opportunity to …