“Playful Plowing: How Arlington’s Creative Snowplow Names Drive Home a Serious Message”

The Department of Environmental Services in Arlington begins preparing for possible winter storms several months early, and before this winter, the agency pondered if it would be more engaging for the community if it opened up name suggestions for snowplows.

Thus, in the autumn, the agency utilized an online form to gather ideas from local residents for the first time. Peter Golkin, a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Services, mentioned they aimed to exclude names tied to specific neighborhoods in Arlington, as that could result in some being represented while others might not be.

Some suggestions were related to names of local officials, but those were also dismissed, “because some of them hold positions of authority in the county, and we prefer to receive our paychecks,” Golkin joked. Other recommendations were for celebrities without a winter-themed twist.

The agency collected hundreds of proposals, Golkin indicated, and compiled them into a spreadsheet. They finalized the selection during “a confidential meeting, in an undisclosed, secure location,” he shared.

“At times we chuckled, and at times we didn’t,” Golkin remarked.

That meeting resulted in plow names such as “Alex Snowvechkin,” “Smithsnownian,” “Snowprah Winfrey” and “Taylor Drift.” Each plow’s name is identified on Arlington’s online dashboard, which displays the locations of the plows.

“When you observe a vehicle in motion, it likely passed through that street approximately 15-20 minutes prior, and that’s for security reasons,” Golkin stated. “And if you click on each vehicle, that’s when the enchanting new name will show up.”

However, the agency found itself in a rush when the weather this week delivered such significant snowfall that they realized contractor snow plows would need to be added.

“We couldn’t have unnamed plows operating next to the ones that were named ‘Taylor Drift’ or ‘Dwight D. Eisenplower,’” Golkin said.

The group began accepting suggestions anew, resulting in contractor plows being named “Ice Force One” and “Virginia is for Shovelers,” among others.

“It’s entertaining, and it enhances the experience of the first significant snowfall in several years,” Golkin remarked.

The agency, according to him, strives to make the information it provides “as enjoyable as possible, so that people will return and receive updates when they need them.”

Golkin anticipates Arlington will continue naming its plows in the upcoming year, although it remains uncertain whether they will retain the same names or consider new suggestions.

“For the time being, there appears to be a very favorable public sentiment towards assigning names to the plows,” he stated.

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