MESSAGE FROM MAYOR PRIBONIC
Dear Residents,
As we leave 2021 behind us, I am eager to look ahead to future projects and initiatives planned for 2022. Over the next year, city leadership has planned to execute a number of projects. I, and my administration are looking forward to working with Stow City Council to achieve desired results. It is an exciting time in Stow!
Some of these initiatives include:
Parks & Recreation
Completion of the master plan project will take place in 2022. We are currently more than halfway through the process that will establish priorities for the future of the City’s parks, trails, recreation facilities, and programs and services. As part of the process, a statistically valid survey has been conducted by representatives from the project planning firm, PROS Consulting. The community-at-large is invited to participate in the online survey. The voices of our residents are very important to us as we move forward with the master plan process. Everyone is encouraged to participate in filling it out. This will aid the City of Stow in taking a community-driven approach to making decisions that will enrich the future of our City and positively affect the quality of life we provide for our residents. Please take this opportunity to let your voice be heard!
The City is constantly reviewing and updating its park priorities in terms of safety, upkeep and beautification to ensure that parks are sustainable for years to come. The completion of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan will result in a roadmap for the future.
Improvements already scheduled for 2022 include:
- Upgrades to Safety Village, to include repairs and additions
- Improvements to the main large parking lot at Silver Springs Park, with the installation of outdoor lighting and paving of the entire lot
- Completion of the last phase of new siding installation at Silver Springs Lodge
- Upgrades to various playgrounds throughout the city, including new equipment at Sherwood Acres Park and Northport Park
- Replacement of restrooms at Adell Durbin Park, and the addition of a shelter
Stow City Center Project
Plans set in motion include construction for replacement of SKIP beginning in the second quarter of 2022. Renderings of this project will be unveiled early this year. When rebuilt, the playground will be located in relatively the same location on the City Center site as it was in its original state. I am very enthused about the new playground and the renderings we have been reviewing. When our kids see the new Skip, I think they will be overjoyed!
Business Community
I, along with Nathan Leppo, Director of Planning and Development will continue to meet individually with local businesses in order to understand the issues and struggles that businesses may be facing, and to develop a plan for assisting business in overcoming obstacles. One of the biggest issues appears to be the availability of qualified workers. The City is part of an initiative in partnership with the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District. As such, the City is committed to assisting in closing these employment gaps.
Sincerely,
John Pribonic
Mayor, City of Stow