Community Newsletter
April 2021 Edition
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Happy Spring! I am excited to share some significant developments that are currently underway throughout the City.
I am proud to announce that as of March 3rd, the City of Lakewood received a high-grade investment rating from Moody’s Investors Service, a “Big Three” credit rating company that determines an entity’s financial health. Lakewood’s municipal notes were given a MIG rating of 1 and maintained a credit rating of Aa2, indicating a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments. This is a huge win for Lakewood! These bond ratings will save the City money, demonstrate the City’s solid financial health and reputation in the investment markets, and insure our continued low interest rates despite the unprecedented pandemic.
During the second community engagement meeting for the City’s proposed Community Center at Cove, Moody Nolan shared survey results, renderings and plans. This design is a direct result of community input. Visit here to see what everyone is talking about, view the PDF presentation or watch the video!
The Detroit-Sloane intersection upgrade project is progressing and scheduled to be completed later this year. This project involves a complete overhaul of the intersection including a water main replacement, sewer improvements, an extension of the trail from the Metroparks into the City, and a public art component. NOACA and ODOT are contributing $1.4 million of the project’s $2.5 million cost. Our Public Works Department is expected to begin work in April, with an anticipated completion date by November.
A beautiful and sustainable Lakewood is important to my administration and Lakewoodites. I look forward to what other opportunities this year will bring. Stay happy and healthy.
Mayor Meghan F. George
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Join us on the "Road" - Virtual State of the City |
Mayor George and Director of Planning & Development, Shawn Leininger, will join the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce's monthly "Brown Bag Lunch" series to present a virtual State of the City on April 16th at noon. Event details and registration can be found here.
Additionally, a spinoff presentation will be coming your way! We have worked with your council representatives to take this show on the road. This is a great opportunity for you to tune in as Mayor George addresses "Where We Have Been and Where we Are Going." She will discuss what happened in 2020 and specifics around the COVID-19 pandemic along with goals and objectives for the year to come. Director Leininger will dive into ongoing projects and development updates. Joined by your ward representative and council members at-large, we hope to use this occasion to tailor aspects of this presentation to each ward.
Registration is available on our website and we will solicit your questions ahead of time. Visit here for more details. |
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Rush Hour Parking Enforcement to Resume on April 12th |
Effective 4/12/2021, the City of Lakewood will resume enforcement of “rush hour” parking zones as marked, Monday-Friday 7:00 am-9:30 am and 4:00 pm-6:30 pm.
Beginning 4/19/2021, vehicles found in violation of the rush hour zones will be subject to towing as posted.
Rush hour parking enforcement was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a review of policies and procedures by Lakewood Police Department, it was decided that the volume of traffic supports now lifting that suspension.
In addition, all other parking violations will again be fully enforced as of 4/12/21.
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Additional Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations to be Installed! |
Leveraging grant funding received from NOPEC and the Ohio EPA, the City plans to install four new Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations over the coming summer and fall. The four sites include Madison Park, Lakewood Park, City Hall, and the West End of Detroit Avenue. Each site will be equipped with a Level 2, dual-port charger to support two designated vehicle charging spaces. The addition of these sites will more than double the City's public EV charging infrastructure, joining the three existing chargers already at the Winterhurst, City Center, and along Park Haven Row (adjacent to Raising Cane’s restaurant). Following the installation of the four new sites, the City intends to continue working to expand the availability of public EV chargers through an emerging partnership program with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Authority (NOACA) and exploring other future grant opportunities. |
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Now Accepting Applications for 2021 Spectacular Vernacular |
The City of Lakewood’s public art program creates opportunities to bridge communities through social offerings in shared public spaces.
Since 2016, the City has been investing in public-private art projects to increase its value as a place that attracts and retains residents, entrepreneurs, employees, and entertainment offerings. Based on lessons learned from previous projects, the City is relaunching the Spectacular Vernacular Grant Application for 2021.
Spectacular Vernacular provides funding for civic art projects within the City of Lakewood. The goal of the grant program is to incentivize private investment in public art. The total available grant funding for 2021 is $50,000.The focus for this year’s program are permanent murals and temporary lighting installations that help activate spaces.
APPLICATIONS OF INTEREST DEADLINE: April 9, 2021
PROJECT BUDGETS: Up to $5,000 for selected murals and up to $2,500 for selected temporary lighting installations; Total available city funds: $50,000
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As part of the City’s award winning Affordable Housing Strategy, federal HOME grant funding is being used to create new housing opportunities for those earning less than 80% of the area median income. Check out the progress on our newest home at 12311 Plover Street. Stay tuned, this home will be available for income qualified buyers in early summer.
Visit here to learn more about the Lakewood HOME Program
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Heads up, the city's website address is changing! |
The City is currently in the process of changing our website domain from onelakewood.com to lakewoodoh.gov.
The domain name gov is a sponsored top-level domain thats use is restricted to government entities. Utilizing the gov domain will ensure our website is easily identifiable as an official government site for the City of Lakewood and will make the site more secure.
We will be working hard to communicate these changes with the public. The official name change will take place in May, and the City's old domain will remain active for a year as we adjust to the transition.
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Lakewood Alive Knowing your Home Series |
Checkout the schedule for LakewoodAlive's 2021 edition of Knowing Your Home Virtual Education Series!
LakewoodAlive believes that tackling a home improvement project doesn't need to feel intimidating. Their virtual workshop series is designed to educate and inform first-time or long-time owners and anyone in-between. The schedule for this year’s series is focused on working to bring century homes into contemporary times while working to preserve the amazing and historic aspects that makes them so special.
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The Lakewood Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board and the Lakewood Community Services Center are collecting dry dog and cat food for families receiving food delivery due to economic hardship. To donate, please bring a bag of unopened pet food to the LCSC on April 24th between 10am- 2pm. Just pull into the back parking lot; you don't even need to get out of your car!
Saturday, April 24th 10am - 2pm
Lakewood Community Service Center
14230 Madison Ave
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Master Rain Gardener Class Spring 2021 |
Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will offer their Master Rain Gardener class. Become our community's expert. At the end of this 5-session course, you will become a Master Rain Gardener! Rain gardens capture and soak in rainwater that runs off hard surfaces like roofs and driveways while filtering pollutants that would otherwise flow to our storm drains and into our lake. Sign up here!
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Additional COVID-19 Updates |
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Cleveland Mass Vaccination Site |
As of March 26, more than 46,000 people have been vaccinated at the state-federal mass vaccination clinic at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.
- The week of March 30 will be the final segment of first doses vaccines. Starting April 6, second doses will begin to be administered.
Appointments can be scheduled by visiting gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov or by calling 1-833-427-5634 (1-833-4-ASK-ODH). Appointments are available for Ohioans 16 years and older. |
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Regional Mass Vaccination Site |
Next week, Ohio will open 11 stationary mass vaccination sites and four mobile clinics that will travel throughout specific regions of the state.
- The stationary mass vaccination sites will be held at:
- The Knights of Columbus, Lima, Ohio
- The Lucas County Rec Center, Maumee, Ohio
- Dayton-Montgomery County Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio
- The Celeste Center, Columbus, Ohio
- The Summit County Fairgrounds, Akron, Ohio
- The site of the former Dillard's at Southern Park Mall, Youngstown, Ohio
- The Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- The Wilmington Airpark, Wilmington, Ohio
- Adena Medical Education Center, Chillicothe, Ohio
- Wayne Street Medical Campus, Marietta, Ohio
- Colony Square Mall, Zanesville, Ohio
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