Cook County resident forms project to clean up litter near the North Shore

Ryan Murray moved to Cook County in 2017 and it did not take long for him to realize the wisdom of his decision.

“I realized this area is magical,” he said. “The sense of community is strong here.”

Murray is an avid hiker on the Superior Hiking Trail and other local trails. In recent weeks he has noticed a disturbing trend: litter spread around the county.

Rather than stew in his emotions, Murray opted to get proactive. In April he launched ‘Ryan’s Restoration Project.’ The platform for the initiative is simple: Murray will clean up litter in Cook County and encourages others to do the same. He also asks that people stop throwing their garbage in places it does not belong.

Murray spoke with WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs April 12 about the project. The audio to their conversation is posted below.