St. Louis Park's annual tradition of snowplow naming has captured attention once more as the community selected "CTRL + SALT + DELETE" as the standout moniker for a city snowplow. This year's contest offered up a flurry of creative entries, with the winning name being submitted by local resident Sarah Fiedler. According to St. Louis Park, MN announcement, 164 names were thrown into the ring by the creatively chilly denizens of St. Louis Park.
The process began this fall and was narrowed down by public works staff to a cool top 10. These finalists were then put to a public vote via the city's website and social media platforms in October. A total of nearly 700 votes were cast in a display of local civic engagement. "CTRL + SALT + DELETE," with 170 votes, narrowly claimed victory over the cleverly named second-placer, "Snowtorious BIG" by just nine votes.
Embracing the victorious title, the city wasted no time in branding one of their snowplows, giving physical form to the collective voice of the voters. The name, a play on a computer command, is now seen emblazoned on the side a city's winter warrior. In a celebration of her creative contribution, Sarah Fiedler, or a chosen delegate, will have the opportunity to ride in the snowplow, as well as receive a tour of the Municipal Service Center.
This festive public exercise was the city's second snowplow naming event, following in the tire tracks of last year's winner, "The Big Snowplowski," suggested by Rebecca Thelen. St. Louis Park will look forward to the next round of snowplow-inspired creativity slated for fall 2025. The city expressed its gratitude to all participants who submitted names and those who cast their votes in this engaging community event.
As the winter unfolds and snowfall blankets the streets of St. Louis Park, residents are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for "CTRL + SALT + DELETE." It serves not just as a functional piece of municipal equipment, but as a mobile emblem of the city's collective spirit and playful approach to public service and community involvement.
