Water. It sustains us, nourishes us, and drives our economy. By the time of the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire, there was no visible life in the water. Fifty years later the river is alive again, but clean water faces more threats than ever. Take part in the largest series of clean water events in the country, June 19th through the 23rd. There’s something for everyone, with 25 events over 5 days.
On morning of June 22, 1969, a spark dropped from a train passing over the Cuyahoga River, and for the 13th documented time over the previous century, it caught fire. What followed changed Cleveland, and the world, forever.
The year’s pinnacle took place June 19-23 as we marked the 50th anniversary of the infamous Cuyahoga River burning. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a wide variety of community events, exhibits, performances, and conferences taking place throughout the year.
The Plain Dealer (Photo Courtesy Cleveland Museum of Art)
New York Times (Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection, via Getty Images)
In 2009, Mayor Frank Jackson launched Sustainable Cleveland 2019, a 10-year initiative to design and develop a “green city on a blue lake” by 2019, the 50th anniversary of the infamous Cuyahoga River fire. Join us throughout 2019 as we mark ten years of progress, celebrate the people who made it happen, and set the stage for future action in building thriving and resilient neighborhoods throughout Cleveland.
