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Lakewood Residents,

In July's issue of the E-Newsletter I want to highlight some of Lakewood's renovations, upgrades, and improvements that our teams and partners have been working on for a long time. I know that construction projects can upend our regular routines and cause temporary headaches, but once completed, the end result is truly worth the wait. Read below for all the latest from Winterhurst, our city park renovations, and our ongoing road, water, and sewer work.

I also am thrilled to welcome Angela Byington to the City of Lakewood as the new Director of Planning and Development. She started her work on June 17, and has begun to settle in to her role. I am excited for all the great things she will bring to City Hall and to Lakewood as a whole.

July 7

Concert in the Park: Liverpool Lads

Lakewood Park

July 12

Friday Night Flick: Trolls Band Together (PG)



Lakewood Park Bandstand

July 14

Concert in the Park:

FireSide

Lakewood Park Bandstand

July 20

Lakewood Summer Meltdown

Detroit Ave. between Marlowe and Arthur

July 21

Concert in the Park: Men of Independence



Lakewood Park Bandstand

July 23

Summer Safety Days

(Registration Required)

Madison Park

July 26

Friday Night Flick:

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (PG)



Lakewood Park Bandstand

July 28

Concert in the Park:

Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band

Lakewood Park Bandstand

August 3

Lakewood Arts Festival

Detroit Ave. between Belle and Arthur

Click below to view the City of Lakewood's full events calendar.

Have you been among the many visitors to Lakewood Park this summer? If so, you have likely noticed the changes to the parking area, where renovations were completed at the beginning of June.

In addition to a complete resurfacing, the parking lot was re-striped to increase the number of parking spaces on the existing lot footprint. We know that during the busy summer months, parking is hard to come by due to the park's popularity, so the additional parking spaces will help to alleviate these issues.

The overall traffic pattern and pedestrian crossing points were updated to improve the flow of vehicles, reduce traffic speed, increase safety and visibility for pedestrians, and provide better access for disabled persons.

During the construction, storm water runoff was also addressed. The lot was reconfigured to reduce the amount of storm water that flows off of the lot and into storm sewers, aligning the project with Lakewood's Integrated Wet Weather Improvement Plan (IWWIP).

Lastly, several power lines were buried and new, more efficient LED lighting fixtures were added to increase the visual appeal, nighttime visibility, and overall safety of the park.

Thank you to the members of our Public Works and Planning and Development Departments for completing these important upgrades in time for the busy summer months!

Lakewood's Public Works teams and contractors work hard every summer to update, maintain, and replace our aging infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, and water/sewer lines for our residents and visitors.

Here is a list of current projects that are currently underway or scheduled to begin this year:

Ongoing Projects

Watermain Replacement (will be resurfaced at end of project)

• Elmwood Avenue between Madison and Athens
• Reveley Avenue between Madison and Athens
• Parkwood Road between Madison and Detroit

Sewer Improvement (will be resurfaced at end of project)

• Lewis Drive between Detroit and Franklin

Concrete Street Improvements

• Bramley Avenue between Waterbury and eastern terminus
• Lakewood Heights Blvd. between Chesterland and Berea

Upcoming Projects

Watermain Replacement (will be resurfaced at end of project)

• Mars Avenue between Madison and Athens
• Marlowe Avenue between Madison and Athens
• Glenbury Avenue between Hilliard and Delaware

Street Resurfacing (beginning this summer)

• Crest Lane between Riverside and Rockway
• Giel Avenue between Clifton and Merl
• Onandaga Avenue between Madison and St. Charles
• Wayne Avenue between Detroit and Crest
• Webb Road between Clifton and Detroit

Street Reconstruction (Concrete Paver Installation)

• Victoria Court between Victoria Ave. and Warren Rd.

To see a visualization all projects that are underway and those that are scheduled to begin soon, please visit our interactive map:

On Monday, June 17, the City of Lakewood welcomed the new Planning and Development Director Angela Byington.

Ms. Byington comes to the City of Lakewood with comprehensive executive level experience in municipal planning, public service, and economic development. She has spent most of her career serving local municipalities, including the cities of Sandusky and Elyria, and most recently served as the Community Development Director at Perkins Township.

Welcome, Angela, and we look forward to all the great things you will accomplish in Lakewood!

On June 5, 2024, Mayor George administered the oath of office to two new police officers, Anna Durczak and Dennis Fischer.

One month later on July 1, Christopher Tarr and Matthew Nicholson were sworn in to the the Lakewood Police Department.

Thanks to all four of you for serving the City of Lakewood, and congratulations on your new roles!

Winterhurst Ice Arena continued its overhaul process during the months of May and June with several key upgrades.

Summer Updates

Ice Plant System Replacement: The entire ice plant system, including the cooling tower, was replaced, significantly improving operational efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Mechanical Room Overhaul: The mechanical room was reconstructed to address issues with the old system. A new melt pit with a heating coil system was added for quicker ice removal.

Access Enhancements: A new garage door now provides easier access for heavy machinery and direct entry to Warren Road.

Rink Improvements: The dasherboards were cleaned, new ice was installed, and both rink walls were repainted with new logos for Winterhurst Ice Arena and the City of Lakewood.

These latest upgrades, combined with previous enhancements such as new LED lighting, are on track to save approximately $90,000 per year in energy costs.

Future Upgrades

Next on the list of updates for Winterhurst include renovations to the locker rooms, and improved bleacher areas. The location features 10,000 square feet of additional building space that Winterhurst hopes to use for a sports medicine and training facility.

Now that regular programming has resumed, visit the Winterhurst website for information on public skating, hockey drop-in sessions, figure skating, and more.

Merl-Bunts Park, a small park located - you guessed it - at the intersection of Merl Ave. and Bunts Road, is currently receiving an overhaul that began with the repaving of the tennis court. The next step is re-painting, as the court will be striped for both tennis and pickleball.

The playground equipment at the park is scheduled to be replaced with new, modern equipment in the Fall of 2024.Thank you to everyone that submitted feedback to the Planning and Development Department's survey conducted in the spring!

Meet Me At Cove

Chitra Walker

Community Resource Specialist

Lakewood Area Collaborative, Division of Youth

Chitra is a long-time and deeply involved community member. She moved to the United States from India in 1972. With the help of friends, she pursued higher education and eventually settled in Northeast Ohio in 1982, where she raised her family and built a career in healthcare administration from which she retired in 2012.

Active in her community, Chitra has volunteered for various organizations including the City of Lakewood's Community Relations Advisory Commission, the League of Women Voters, Lakewood Chapter and as a founding board member of the Healthy Lakewood Foundation. She is also a volunteer peer coach, supporting families affected by substance use disorders. Her dedication to community involvement and her advocacy for understanding and kindness reflect her belief in the power of collective action and conversation. For roughly the past two years, Chitra has worked part-time as a community resource specialist on the City of Lakewood's Division of Youth team and will be retiring at the end of this month.

Chitra was instrumental in bringing the ME/WE Family Education Program and Support Group to the City of Lakewood. The group meets both in-person and virtually on Saturday mornings from 10 AM to 12 PM at The Cove Community Center. This unique program provides education and support for families concerned about a loved one's substance use, offering a twelve-week cycle covering ten different topics and peer support. Funded by the Opioid Settlement, it helps families understand addiction, set healthy boundaries, and prioritize self-care.

While we will miss seeing Chitra daily, we know she will continue making Lakewood a better place for all. We wish her the best in her retirement.

Timeless Tales: Celebrating 30 Years of the Lakewood Family Room

The Lakewood Family Room has been a beacon of support and strength for families across our city and beyond for three decades. Originating from modest roots within a school cafeteria, evolving to establish its first dedicated space at St. James Child Care Center, finding a nurturing haven at Lakewood United Methodist, and finally culminating in our cherished new permanent residence at Cove Community Center, our dedication to fostering an environment where families flourish has remained unwavering.

This year we will celebrate our mission and the individuals who shaped it with a gala celebration and fundraiser on Saturday, August 17th at 7:00 PM at Cove Community Center.

TIMELESS TALES: Celebrating 30 years of the Lakewood Family Room will bring together friends, alumni, and supporters for an evening of food, drinks, games, and auctions to raise funds for the Lakewood Family Room. This unique theme was chosen to symbolize the timeless essence of the stories and memories created within the Lakewood Family Room over the past 30 years. Just as classic children's tales hold a special place in our hearts, so too do the experiences shared, and bonds formed within our community.

We are seeking sponsors for the event, donations for the silent auction, and your personal stories of the impact the Lakewood Family Room had on your life. Please contact Program Manager, Jessica Parker at (216) 529-5018 or jessica.parker@lakewoodoh.gov to contribute or for more information. Look for tickets to go on sale soon!

City of Lakewood | lakewoodoh.gov