FAQ

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 redefining the canal’s present by removing the stigmatizing term “Sanitary” from its title, and to catalyze creative thinking for what is possible culturally, environmentally, and economically with the canal in the future.

The new name will be determined by a public process that will shape a new canal narrative, coordinate planning, and drive investment in the subwatershed that contains the 28-mile canal. The process will include Native Americans, historians, conservationists, community representatives, elected officials, business leaders, government agencies, and more.

The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal flows from Ashland Avenue in Chicago to Lockport, Illinois.

The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal provides a vast array of opportunity for industry, commerce, shipping, and economic development companioned with wildlife habitat, public health and ecological opportunities, and recreation in the larger Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal subwatershed and the I&M Canal National Heritage Area. However, the goal of this initiative is to gather input from a diverse group of partners to collectively define a new vision for this canal from broader public engagement and outreach.

The purpose and function of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and shipping and commerce will remain the same. We will facilitate a process to build momentum and broader understanding of the value of the waterway leading to investments in land protection and conservation, cultural resources, economic investment, climate resiliency, and a new name which more accurately reflects and celebrates the canal’s improved health and its place in our collective history—and future.

The name Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is indicative of its reputation. Times have changed and so has the canal. Although it is still an important corridor of commerce, it isalso critical habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species including endangered and migratory species. It is also a significant element of the I&M National Heritage Area. According to the National Park Service, the Heritage Area is a passageway for transportation and recreation, and the 60 communities within it are connected to its history and future. Redefining the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal will help to improve and protect the canal corridor in support of human, ecological, and economic health through a curated public outreach process.

There is no exact timeline. However, there will be three Naming Committee meetings in the summer of 2025 to start exploring this process. A public event is planned for September 12, 2025 that will recognize the 125th anniversary of the Canal’s opening where we will use the findings from the Naming Committee’s work to celebrate and promote a new vision for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

Take the survey to share your vision and ideas for redefining the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal here. You can also support the effort by signing on to our coalition to redefine the canal and contributing funds to support the work. For more information, please contact: csscredefine@chicagoriver.org

Our goal is to redefine the future of the Canal through a discovery process that will build momentum and broader understanding of the value of the waterway, and lead to investments in public health, conservation, cultural resources, economic strength, climate resilience, and a new name. A new name would more accurately reflect and celebrate the Canal's improved health and its place in our collective history--and bright future.