Takes on some famous names are coming to a city street near you this winter.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Department of Streets and Sanitation announced the seven top vote-getting names in the city’s first snowplow naming contest, after more than 80,000 votes were tabulated.
The names are:
- Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow
- Da Plow
- Salter Payton
- Sears Plower
- Sleet Home Chicago
- Holy Plow!
- Jean Baptiste Point du Shovel
Nearly 7,000 potential names were submitted in 17,000 suggestions from Chicago residents. Initially, the city planned to name six snowplows — one for each snow district — in its fleet of almost 300 baby-blue “Snow Fighting Trucks.” (During a major snowfall in Chicago, a pool of up to 675 motor-truck drivers can be dispatched.) Another was added due to a close vote.
[ Chicago’s 10 largest snowfalls since 1886 — and how the Tribune covered them ]
Each of the snowplows will be trackable in real-time on the city’s plow tracker — and the name will be added to the vehicles, too.
Snowplow-naming contests have been popular in other cities and states, which have used them to raise awareness for winter driving safety and to recognize employees who pilot the vehicles.
