McKinley Park Residents Invited to Vote on Historic Canal Name Change Through November 7
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Mckinley Park ·
McKinley Park residents have a unique opportunity to make history this week as voting continues through Friday, November 7, on renaming the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The community-driven process, spearheaded by the Bold Past, Bright Future coalition, invites public participation in selecting a new name that better reflects the waterway's significance and future.
The initiative primarily aims to remove the stigmatizing term "sanitary" from the canal's title. This historic 28-mile waterway, which forms the north border of McKinley Park, was opened in 1900 as part of the Chicago River flow reversal project and served as a key shipping route connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. While shipping remains important, the canal's use has evolved to include parks, recreation, and ecological activities as water quality has dramatically improved over the years. The renaming effort coincides with the 125th anniversary of the reversal of the Chicago River, an engineering achievement that solved a public health crisis and helped establish Chicago as a major American city.
Community members interested in participating can visit boldpastbrightfuture.org to cast their votes before the November 7 deadline. Local officials note that the name change represents growth and opportunity, with civic leaders viewing it as a celebration of the region's bold history and bright future that could lead to new investments in public health, conservation, cultural resources, and climate resilience.
Sources:
1. https://mckinleypark.news/news/7526-vote-this-week-to-rename-historic-canal
2. https://www.boldpastbrightfuture.org/aboutus
3. https://mwrd.org/news/mwrd-friends-chicago-river-community-leaders-celebrate-125th-anniversary-canal-saved-chicago-work-redefine-its-future