City announces 50 finalists in snowplow-naming contest, including ‘Chance the Scraper’ and ‘Casimir Plowaski’

The Streets and Sanitation Department announced finalists for the contest Monday. Residents can vote for up to six names. Voting ends Feb. 2.

SHARE City announces 50 finalists in snowplow-naming contest, including ‘Chance the Scraper’ and ‘Casimir Plowaski’
Snow plows are parked outside the Grand Avenue Salt Dome Replacement Facility in the West Town neighborhood during the unveiling of seven new snow plows, Friday, March 24, 2023. The Department of Streets and Sanitation held a “You Name a Snowplow Contest,” which allowed residents to submit names for the new snow plows.

Seven snowplows named in a city contest were unveiled last March at the Grand Avenue Salt Dome in West Town.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

“Above the Thaw,” “Casimir Plowaski,” “Chance the Scraper” and “Taylor Drift” are just four of the 50 name options that Chicago residents can vote for in the city’s second annual “You Name a Snowplow” contest.

The Department of Streets and Sanitation announced finalists for its snowplow-naming contest Monday. Voting ends Feb. 2. Chicago residents can vote for up to six names on the city’s website.

The six names with the most votes will be featured on a snowplow in each of the city’s six snow districts, joining the named snowplows announced last year. Those who submitted winning names will get the chance to take a photo with the plow they named.

Some of the names have a Chicago twist, with names like “Arctic Institute of Chicago,” “Deep Dish Plowzza,” “Plowapalooza” and “The Magnificent Pile.”

The city’s “Sears Plower” and “Salter Payton” snowplows were unveiled Friday at the Grand Avenue Salt Dome.

“Sears Plower” and “Salter Payton” were two of the winning names in last year’s naming contest.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched the annual snowplow-naming contest in 2022. Last year’s winning names included “Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow,” “Salter Payton,” “Sears Plower,” and “Jean Baptiste Point du Shovel.”

Once the six winners are chosen, residents will be able to view their newly named vehicles through the city’s snowplow tracker. Those who submitted the winning names will get the chance to take a photo with the snowplow they named.

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