MWRD, Friends of the Chicago River, community leaders celebrate 125th anniversary of the canal that saved Chicago; work to redefine its future
WHO: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), Friends of the Chicago River, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (11th Dist.), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Commissioner John Daley (11th Dist.), Chicago Park District General Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, area mayors, congressmen and other dignitaries from Cook County, DuPage County and Will County
WHAT: MWRD’s Board of Commissioners and staff join Friends of the Chicago River to recognize the 125th anniversary of the reversal of the flow of the Chicago River while looking to the future to announce plans to rename the canal and redefine its bright future.
WHERE: Richard J. Daley Park boat launch, 3150 South Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), community leaders and Friends of the Chicago River will hold a news conference to mark the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the reversal of the Chicago River, the famed engineering feat that solved a public health crisis, and established Chicago as the respected American metropolis it is today.
To reverse the flow of the Chicago River, the MWRD beginning in 1889 led efforts to construct 61 miles of canals, including the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in 1900 followed by the North Shore Channel (1910) and Cal-Sag Channel (1922). At more than 28 miles long and over 160 feet wide, when it opened in 1900, the CSSC was one of the largest earth-moving projects of its time. It laid the foundation for modern wastewater management and inspired cities around the world. Beyond protecting public health, the canal also helped shape Chicago’s identity as a major transportation hub. It connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system, opening new routes for commerce and industry.
Over a century later, the canal is thriving with fish, wildlife, recreation, economic development and shipping, and the anniversary represents an opportunity to reflect on the waterway’s future. To that end, officials will unveil potential new names for the CSSC through a coalition anchored by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (11th Dist.), community leaders and Friends of the Chicago River. The public will also have an opportunity to vote on a new name which would be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names for approval.