The city is now a leader in sustainability.

 

Fifty-four years ago, the Cuyahoga River erupted into flames on an oil-slicked stretch near Republic Steel.

June 22, 1969 was a low point in Cleveland history – but also a turning point.

That 20-minute fire changed the course of history for Cleveland and the nation, lighting the match on an environmental movement that is still going strong.

One year after that, thanks to the efforts of groundbreaking Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes, the modern environmental movement began, leading to the Clean Water Act and the founding of the EPA. 

Today, Cleveland is a leader in the sustainability movement, with private and public partners focused on building a Green City on Blue Lake.  Business community efforts include  Entrepreneurs 4 Sustainability, Great Lakes Biomimicry and Cleveland Water Alliance, and the support of the city, county and private foundations.

Individual companies are embracing sustainability, too, from EV production and sustainable product innovation to water technology and renewable energy investments. 

“Using the strength of our private and public partnerships, Cleveland is paving the way for a more sustainable region – continually working toward the goal of a green city on a blue lake,” says Emily Keller, GCP’s first Manager of Sustainability.

“Our Cleveland based companies include industry leaders who are paving the way for sustainable innovation. And with the support of the public sector, the region has the tools needed to continue to lead in the sustainability space.”

 

Cleveland Rising

The Cuyahoga River has been the driver of regional growth since Moses Cleaveland arrived here with the Connecticut Land Company on July 22, 1796.

The opening of the Ohio & Erie Canal in the 1820s further spurred progress, and by the 1920s, Cleveland had become one of the wealthiest cities in America thanks to industry.

John D. Rockefeller himself established his first business on the river in 1859. By 1863, he had started one of the largest private companies in history, Standard Oil, right by the Cuyahoga.

The rise of industry around the river meant the rise of Cleveland.

 

The Lows 

Times changed, however, and the river also saw some of Cleveland’s lowest moments in the mid-twentieth century.

The polluted, oil-slicked river caught fire a dozen times before June 22, 1969.

Though this was a small fire that burned for just 20 minutes and caused little damage - $45,000 to a Norfolk & Western Railway Co. bridge, and $5,000 in damage to a trestle – the impact was felt far and wide. "Time Magazine" proclaimed the river a place where "not even low forms such as leeches and sludge worms that usually thrive on wastes could live." 

 

Turning Point

As word got out about the polluted state of the Cuyahoga, Cleveland’s revolutionary Mayor Carl Stokes – elected the first Black mayor of a major American city in 1967– realized he could use the fire, and national attention, to the city’s advantage.

He held a press conference by the river the next day and he testified before congress for federal legislation to clean up Cleveland’s water. His transformative efforts led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and the 1972 Clean Water Act. The environmental movement was ignited.

 

New Day Rising

Since 1969, billions in local and federal dollars have been spent on river clean-up and development. Improved river quality has led to increased development on the river – still a working waterbody. Cleveland Cliffs, who employs thousands in Cleveland and is one of the region’s companies most committed to sustainability, is one of many companies making vital use of the river.

The river is also the center of one of the most ambitious projects in Cleveland history, the Vision for the Valley.

In 2021, Bedrock announced its plan to partner with the city with the goals of transforming the Cuyahoga riverfront downtown and “connecting downtown and its residents and visitors to the riverfront through an approach prioritizing sustainability, equity and accessibility.”

World-renowned architect Sir David Adjaye  created masterplan for the 20- to 30-year project that will extend from Tower City Center to the east bank, approximately 130 acres.

Bedrock’s vision calls for a public-private partnership among the company, city and civic groups including GCP and Downtown Cleveland Alliance to rebuild the area’s urban infrastructure, with a focus on sustainability, including new public open spaces, enhanced pathways to the riverfront, transit-oriented development and diverse and inclusive housing options. The plan will create what they are calling a “15-minute neighborhood and 18-hour city” for residents and visitors.

It is the future of the river – born from hard lessons and the hard work of past generations and the innovative vision of leaders moving Greater Cleveland forward.

“The Cuyahoga River catching on fire was an eye-opening event for Cleveland and the world,” says Keller. “Instead of letting the adversity defeat us, though, the city of Cleveland turned that negative into a positive, paving the way for a monumental environmental movement that would impact generations to come.”

“The city used the flames as fuel to spark an environmental movement that has impacted the entire county.” 

 

Learn More

The Burning River: A look back at the twisting history of the Cuyahoga (vintage photos) - cleveland.com

Greater Cleveland Partnership’s All In vision for a Great Region on a Great Lake has five key priorities: Dynamic Business, Abundant Talent, Inclusive Opportunity, Appealing Community and Business Confidence. All of our work ties back to these values. This story relates to Appealing Community.