The Cleveland Flag Project is comprised of a passionate group of Clevelanders has come together to create a new flag for the city
By Mitch Allen
An effective flag is one that’s immediately recognizable and linked to its bearer. Old Glory is instantly recognized as the banner of the United States and brings to mind all that our nation stands for. I’m guessing you could also instantly recognize the Canadian flag with its red maple leaf, the Japanese flag with its single red circle representing the sun, the Israeli flag with its blue Star of David, and the United Kingdom’s Union Jack. The Ohio state flag is easy to spot, too. It’s the only state flag that isn’t a rectangle; it’s a swallow-tailed burgee.
But what about the city of Cleveland’s flag? I asked several of my friends and family members about it, and no one knew what it looks like; some didn’t even know we had one, including me.
Cleveland Flag Project, a group of passionate Clevelanders whose mission is to research, commission, and introduce a new city flag.
The project was created in late 2023, evolving from the combination of two independent project teams working on similar endeavors, which included visiting other metropolitan areas—like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C.—where city flags are widely popular and serve as unifying symbols for the larger community.
The group says the aim of the new city flag is to “inspire pride and unity, fostering a shared sense of belonging and representation for all community members as we embark on the next phase of our city’s growth and development.”
So far, the team has polled more than 600 Clevelanders for input on what they would like to see in a new flag. It’s also enhancing its website—CLEflag.org—and using social media to leverage survey insights to promote and educate locals who are interested in submitting a flag design. The participants have been pointing out many of Cleveland’s offerings, including beautiful parks, scenic waterways, and lively food and entertainment scenes.
The Cleveland Flag Project is keeping open communications with city hall and city council to ensure the city embraces the new flag. The group is here to guide the project and support and execute the contest; city leadership is here to legitimize the final product; and the entire community is here to share its ideas.
The Flag Design Contest
The group has partnered with local businesses and organizations, including the local chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts—AIGA Cleveland—to ensure proper implementation of an open flag design contest, and the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), the leading flag organization in North America, to help lay out guidelines for submissions and basic flag design information. (You may recall the term “vexillology” from one of Sheldon Cooper’s “Fun with Flags” episodes on the TV show “The Big Bang Theory.”)
The group is hoping for design submissions from people of all walks of life, including student of all ages, encouraged by printable PDFs of the contest details that will be made available to area teachers. The contest will be open to residents of Cuyahoga County and its six contiguous counties—Lorain, Medina, Geauga, Lake, Summit, and Portage.
Choosing the Final Flag Design
A diverse committee of passionate Clevelanders is being assembled to serve as the Flag Selection Committee, which will unveil the final three to four designs for the public to vote on, then the final design will be presented to the city council for approval.
Pre-sales of the city’s new flag will be available and will include a certificate commemorating the official unveiling. The goal is to have people and businesses throughout the region all flying the flag on the same day through a widespread unveiling. In addition, the group’s website will be set up for the purchase of the Ohio-made flags and other flag apparel from Cleveland-based apparel companies, with all proceeds going to Cleveland nonprofits.
The Cleveland Flag Project is currently seeking additional funding, including Project Partners and Unveiling Partners. Follow the group on Instagram or visit the website for more details, including the contest launch date.
What’s in a Flag?
The symbolism of the current flag of Cleveland is virtually unknown to area residents. The colors and American shield represent patriotism; the anvil, hammer, and wheel represent industry and manufacturing; and the anchor, windlass, and oars represent the city’s status as a major port.
The blue bars on the flag of Chicago represent the city’s various waterways, while the four stars represent milestones in the city’s history, including the Great Chicago Fire and the Chicago World’s Fair.
The gold color at the top of the flag of Milwaukee represents the city’s rich brewing history; the center disc is the sun rising over Lake Michigan; and the three bars represent the city’s original three settlements as well as its three rivers—Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic.
The flag of Washington, D.C. is based on the coat of arms used by the family of George Washington.
For more information about the Cleveland Flag Project, please visit CLEflag.org.