For Immediate Release | Official Press Release
PRESS RELEASE 
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
 
36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185
Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM
Makeover of Westland Neighborhoods Continues


Westland, MI (August 1, 2018) -   Last year, at his Annual State of the City Address, Mayor Wild announced a number of big plans underway, including a citywide campaign to beautify all Westland neighborhoods.  The city was divided into 50 sections where c ity crews would go through, street by street, to complete a comprehensive 50 point checklist for revitalizing each neighborhood.  Work began in 2017 with the P.D. Graham Elementary School neighborhood on the city's Western boundary and crews have continued their work this summer, completing work in many neighborhoods around Westland.    

The Checklist includes work on trees, signs, water, roads, sanitation, sewers and hydrants.  Below is a breakdown of the work being  completed along with the number of items serviced around the city since the Neighborhood Makeover Plan kicked off in 2017.  

Trees - 3779 completed

1. Remove dead trees from right of way
2. Trim trees from around street signs
3. Trim trees from around streetlights
4. Trim low tree branches hanging over roads and sidewalks
5. Ask residents to bring cut tree branches to curb for clipping

Signs - 634 completed

6.  Straighten leaning signs
7.  Repair damaged and worn signs
8.  Place new additional signs where needed

Roads - 1856 completed

9.    Survey road conditions
10.  Identify failing sections of roads
11.  Identify joints and cracks for sealing
12.  Identify catch basins that need repair
13.  Identify storm manholes that need repair
14.  Identify pavement marking where needed
15.  Televise storm sewer where needed
16.  Clean storm sewer where needed
17.  Repair drainage problems where needed
18.  Vactor catch basins where needed
19.  Sweep roads
20.  Inspect street lights
21.  Patch potholes
22.  Grade dirt roads
23.  Apply calcium chloride on dirt roads where needed
24.  Mow road right of way where needed
25.  Replace guardrails where needed
26.  Clean out ditches where needed
27.  Identify culverts that need repair

Water Distribution System/Hydrants - 544 completed

28.  Inspect hydrants
29.  Paint hydrants
30.  Identify curb boxes 
31.  Locate curb boxes (GPS)
32.  Document/replace known/discovered LEAD service lines
33.  Exercise water gates where needed

Sanitary Sewer System - 256 completed

34.  Clean/jet sanitary sewer mains where needed
35.  Inspect/clean sanitary manholes where needed
36.  Identify sanitary manholes that need repair/adjustment
37.  Televise sanitary sewers as needed

Sanitation - 221 completed

38.  Replace broken garbage bins as needed
39.  Replace broken recycle bins as needed

Parks - ongoing

40.  Maintain neighborhood parks

Other Neighborhood Services

41.  Inspect private properties for high grass
42.  Inspect/verify vacant home registration
43.  Insure vacant homes are in safe and secure conditions
44.  Mow tall grass on private property where needed
45.  Remove all illegal signs from right of way
46.  Identify and remove inoperable vehicles
47.  Investigate animal control complaints and respond to rodent complaints
50.  Check for non-permitted construction activities and rental properties


To date, the Neighborhood Makeover crews have completed work in entirety in
9 of the 50 districts and are finishing up work in an additional 11.   Crews are currently working in districts 14 and 42. 

This list of services to be performed, the district each neighborhood falls into and crew's progress can be found and tracked on the city's website.

As part of the Neighborhood Makeover Program, the Department of Neighborhood Services, along with the newly created Beautification Commission is looking to reward businesses and residents that are making an extra effort to improve their homes and buildings for themselves and the community.  Individuals are encouraged to nominate those around the community who have recently added to their property's appeal/  Awardees will be recognized with a certificate and will have the chance to be recognized as a grand winner at a Westland City Council meeting.  Visit www.cityofwestland.com/beautifulcity for more information or to make a nomination.  


An  additional portion of this program is an ambitious tree planting program, in line with the city's Mission: Green Initiative.  The tree planting program is aimed at replacing the many residential trees that were killed by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer insect.  For a nominal fee, the city will plant a new, beautiful and healthy tree that is resistant to this insect.  Each new tree is warrantied for one year, with proper care and maintenance.  Homeowners who lost a tree to the Emerald Ash Borer Disease will receive priority first-round planting while those who have not will be placed on a wait list for future rounds of beautification planting.  Trees ordered via this program will be planted in the city's right of way space between the sidewalk and the curb.  The final planting location in this space will be determined by the professional installer to ensure healthy clearances from any objects or obstructions.  For more information or to order a tree, residential property owners can visit https://squareup.com/store/westlandtree

"This program is a comprehensive citywide neighborhood revitalization which involves work from the City as well as individuals around the community who are willing to role up their sleeves and put in extra effort to maintain the city's aesthetic appeal," commented Mayor Wild.  "Together, we can ensure that Westland remains a great place to live, work, play and raise a family."    



For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City.  Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas.  The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.


 

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities.  Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based.  They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.


 

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.


 

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more.  One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.


 

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.  Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

 

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region.  Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.


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