Chicago City Wire

State Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Chicago) wants to show his appreciation to the Polish Americans in his community.

Stephens is cosponsoring House Bill 5581, which would designate a portion of Milwaukee Avenue as the “Milwaukee Avenue Polish Heritage Corridor.” The bill has passed the House unanimously and will now be considered by the Senate, according to a release from Stephens' office.

The Polish Heritage Corridor would span Milwaukee Avenue from Sangamon Street in Chicago to Greenwood Road in Niles.

“The Polish American community in the 20th District and Chicagoland have enriched our communities for generations,” Stephens said in a release. “I’m glad this corridor will run through the 20th District and will recognize the cultural and historic contributions of the Polish American community in the Chicagoland area, particularly in Niles and Schiller Park. I look forward to seeing this bill move through the Senate and signed into law to make this important designation in our communities.”

People of Polish descent began populating Chicago in the 1850s.

“I’m proud to co-sponsor legislation designating the Milwaukee Avenue Polish Heritage Corridor, which includes part of the 20th District in Niles,” Stephens wrote on Facebook. “I’m glad this will recognize the cultural and historic contributions of Chicagoland's Polish American community and hope to see it pass the Senate soon.”

Neighborhoods such as Wicker Park and Avondale have large, historic Polish communities.  Bogdan Pukszta, executive director of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce, said that over the past 20 years, the area has lost some of its Polish heritage, but HB 5581 will attract Polish businesses and tourists to the area, according to Block Club Chicago.

Cook County was home to more than 530,000 Polish Americans at the time of the 2000 census.

Améreida reports there are approximately over 8,000,000 Polish Americans living in the United States.