Our Purpose:
To celebrate the bold past and bright future of an invaluable resource for Chicago and the state of Illinois.
Support for redefining the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal comes from a broad coalition of nonprofits, governments, elected officials, businesses, and engaged citizens with a shared goal of celebrating the rich cultural and industrial history of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and modernizing its name to reflect where we have come from and where we are going.
Our Steering Committee includes:
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Congressman Bill Foster, United States House of Representatives, (IL-11)
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Lucy Chang Evans, Board Member, DuPage County
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Kari Steele, President, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
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Daniel Hebreard, President, DuPage County Forest Preserves
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John Egofske, Mayor, Village of Lemont
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Sergio Rodriguez, Mayor, Village of Summit
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Steve Streit, Mayor, Village of Lockport
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Jeremie Bacon, Co-Founder, The Forge Adventure Parks and The Wilder World Trust
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Jason Berry, Economic & Community Development Director, Village of Lemont
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Brendan Dailey, Head Assistant Attorney, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
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Hilary Denk, District Director, Office of Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11)
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Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director, Friends of the Chicago River
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John Murray, Executive Director, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
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Hugh O’Hara, Executive Director, Will County Governmental League
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Rick Kwasneski, Kwas Consulting Services, Inc.
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George Schafer, Village Manager, Village of Lemont
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Todd Strole, Deputy Director, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Tim Touhy, Communications Director, Friends of the Chicago River
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Michelle Uting, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Forest Preserves of Cook County
This diverse group is committed to working together to improve the canal corridor in support of human, ecological, and economic health.
This diverse group is committed to working together to improve the canal corridor in support of human, ecological, and economic health.
The movement to redefine the canal emerged from several quarters. Friends of the Chicago River started researching renaming after ecological restoration efforts, public policy changes, and investment in new technologies made the river and adjacent lands more welcoming for people, wildlife, and a more diverse waterfront economy.
Meanwhile, municipalities along the canal, which invested in riverfront amenities and committed to the I&M Canal National Heritage Area, recognized a name change represented growth and opportunity.
U.S. Representative Bill Foster (IL-11) knew that a new name would underscore how ecological health, commerce, community, industry, and history could combine to create a stronger region and attract tourism and promote economic growth.
Civic leaders, filled with historic pride, knew that a new name could celebrate the region’s bold past and bright future, and that redefining the Canal would lead to investments in public health, conservation, cultural resources, economic strength, climate resilience, and a new name.
Early Supporters include:
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Toni Preckwinkle, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
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Forest Preserves of Cook County
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Friends of the Chicago River
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Friends of the Forest Preserves
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The Forge Charitable Adventures
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Friends of the Forest Preserves
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Mayor John Egofske, Village of Lemont
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Mayor Steve Streit, City of Lockport
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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
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Openlands
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Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter
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Sergio Rodriguez, Mayor, Village of Summit
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The Trust for Public Land