It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban setting, and city rivers get a particularly bad rap. It’s true that a lot of places have had eras of sewage mishandling and high boat traffic — but many have also cleaned up their act.

One of those cities is Portland, OR, where a journalist-turned-governor led the charge. And once the Willamette River was cleaned, the next battle was making sure people knew it was open for business ... or rather, partying.

City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza joins this week's episode of "Your City Could Be Better" to debunk the assumptions and fears about her city’s river, the Willamette. She told us how a quirky organizer — and lots of enthusiastic swimmers — have rebranded the river, transformed its reputation, and made the Willamette not just acceptable, but actually COOL to hang in. (Claudia literally bought her home with this in mind!)

Mentioned on the show:

• Portland’s riverfront park, named after former Governor Tom McCall
• Swiss residents using river to swim home from work
• RFK Jr. swimming (in jeans) in Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.