Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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BOSTON
- It's been great to be in Boston today with mayors from across the nation for the U.S. Conference of Mayors 86th Annual Meeting. I want to thank Columbia, SC Mayor Steve Benjamin for leading the four-day event and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh for hosting. The picture here is of me with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti after we had a discussion about sharing ideas for our cities. Among the ideas coming out of this summit: Mayor Walsh announced an effort to team up with cities like Los Angeles to collectively buy renewable energy. That could increase municipal buying power, slash costs, and create green energy incentives.
Nearly 250 mayors from across the country are here sharing ideas on water, neighborhoods, infrastructure, affordable housing, immigration, health care, the national economy, climate protection, technology, and safety. This is a great opportunity for us to network and to learn what other cities are doing to improve the quality of life for their constituents and then bring those lessons back to Toledo.
I have already attended a session on water and we will be going to a session on strategies to reduce gun violence. The bipartisan group of mayors here in Boston this weekend want real action to stop gun violence.
We will have a caucus of the approximately 30 mayors from Ohio who are here to talk about ways we can help each other and collaborate.
This weekend is the 48th edition of the Boston Pride Parade. I am proud to march in the parade with mayors from across the nation. Toledo Pride is Aug. 17-18. On Tuesday, I will join other leaders in our city to raise the Pride Flag outside One Government Center downtown. It will fly there for the reminder of the month in honor of June as
LGBT+
P
ride Month
.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Phillips-Willys Interchange Connector Project
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The final landscape elements of the “Phillips-Willys Interchange Connector Project” are being planted and installed.
The project creates a complete street corridor in west central Toledo, changing the transportation system to react to the changes along I-75 that the Ohio Ohio Department of Transportation is constructing.
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In addition to the transportation improvements for the corridor, the project includes many landscape elements to invest in the revitalization of the affected neighborhoods. The project includes five roundabouts in the corridor, elimination of confusing islands and 1950s era intersection design, and opening access to Manhattan Boulevard from Cherry Street.
The project also includes construction of six landscape walls, with entry piers to the Old West End at Collingwood Boulevard and more than 300 trees along the public right of way. The tree species include Red Oak, Swamp White Oak, Elm, Ginkgo, Zelkova Beech, and others selected by a team of landscape architects to thrive in locations throughout the corridor.
The project also includes a bicycle path along the street. It is part of the new Overland Trail that connects Ottawa park, Woodlawn Cemetery, and arboretum, Willys Park, Liberty Park, and Joe E. Brown park.
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A big thank you to Vistula neighborhood residents Sye Kreais and Louis Morales who, with the help of city employees and Lucas County Land Bank employees, improved the corner of Michigan and Chestnut streets in North Toledo.
This area continues to be developed with landscaping and additional green space.
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City pools are opening earlier this year.
Yes, we are expecting rain this weekend, but the first three city pools -- Pickford, Wilson, and Jamie Farr -- open Saturday. There will be plenty of hot, sunny days this summer to enjoy the pools.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz on June 1 announced an accelerated schedule for opening the city’s public pools and splash pad.
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Thanks to a generous donation from the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, the first 1,000 children at Wilson Park Pool will swim free.
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Also, thanks to GLG Construction Services and The Toledo Journal who donated $500 each this week to pay for the first 1,000 children to swim free at Roosevelt Park Pool when it opens on June 16.
Roosevelt and Willys pools open on Saturday, June 16.
The Savage Park Splash Pad will open on Saturday, June 23.
Navarre Pool remains under construction. The Kapszukiewicz administration will announce an opening date for Navarre Pool as soon as it is available.
Willys and Roosevelt pools, and the Savage Park Splash Pad, will be closed on Mondays. Wilson, Pickford, Jamie Farr, and Navarre pools will be closed on Tuesdays.
The pools have a modest entry fee of $1 for children 12 and under. The cost is $2 for those 13 and older. The splash pad is free.
Pool Locations and Phone Numbers:
- Willys Pool, 1375 Hillcrest Ave., 419-936-2928
- Roosevelt Pool, 910 Dorr St., 419-936-2501
- Wilson Pool, 3253 Otto St., 419-936-3071
- Pickford Pool, 3000 Medford Dr., 419-936-2863
- Navarre Pool, 1001 White St., 419-936-3064
- Jamie Farr Pool, 2000 Summit St., 419-936-3072
- Savage Park Splash Pad, 645 Vance St., 419-936-2502
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The final work to get Jaime Farr Park pool and basketball court ready for the 2018 summer season was completed this week. The basketball court has a new top coat and the water in the pool was tested Thursday.
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Mill and Fill repaving in District 5 is complete and we are rapidly finishing District 6.
District 4 is next.
The city's new equipment purchased last year is allowing us to move quickly.
City employees on the Mill and Fill team take out bad pavement and replace it with new asphalt.
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We completed 16.5 miles last year. The goal for 2018 is 25 miles.
Mill and fill runs in addition to the city’s street resurfacing program.
City crews will also begin crack sealing to extend the life of streets.
Please use
this link
to find the schedule and where crews are working.
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Please take a moment to complete our survey on the Downtown Toledo Transportation Plan at
this link
.
A high-resolution version of the presentation from our recent public meeting on the Downtown Toledo Transportation Plan can be seen
here
.
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The city of Toledo is hosting the 2018 Youth Fishing Rodeo 9-11 a.m., Saturday,
June 9
for children 15 years and younger at Sleepy Hollow Park, 4035 Dorr St. near the intersection of Richards Road and Dorr.
Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. Prizes will be awarded. Each child must provide proof of age if they appear older than 15. Children may fish with rods and reels, poles and lines. Bobbers, sinkers, and weights are permitted. Children must furnish their own fishing equipment. Anyone 16 years and older must possess an Ohio fishing license to fish.
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Anthony Wayne Memorial Service
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In commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the Anthony Wayne Trail fire, we invite you to attend a memorial service in honor of fallen Toledo Firefighters.
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The service will take place at noon, Monday,
June 11,
at the Toledo Firefighters Memorial, located across from 545 North Huron St., the Michael P. Bell Administrative Building. Please join us as we gather in memory of all Toledo firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty and our retirees who passed in 2017.
Captain George S. Fraser and Captain Benn R. Miner will be added to the monument during the service.
The city of Toledo supports the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Joan Easler, ADA coordinator, at 419-245-1059.
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By The Numbers
(
year-to-date
)
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44,668
potholes filled
233
water main breaks repaired
623,797
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
3.32 million
pounds of debris removed with street sweepers.
1,076
trees trimmed
1,130
illegal signs removed
4,234
vehicles towed
4,583
building inspections completed
2,581
contractor licenses issued
733
new jobs
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WTOL-11 Anchor J
erry
Anderson was honored by Toledo City Council this week for his upcoming retirement.
Mr. Anderson began his broadcasting career in 1974 at WFOB, an AM station in Bowling Green, and joined local TV news in 1980. He worked at WTVG-TV when it was an NBC affiliate and at WSPD-AM 1370.
Congratulations! We will miss you.
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Toledo In The News
U.S. EPA cleans up former Champion Spark Plug site
The Champion Spark Plug factory closed years ago. The site was purchased by a developer, who scrapped the buildings and left all of the debris behind. It has since changed hands multiple times. The property on Upton and Montrose has been a eyesore and a magnet for illegal dumping. The U.S. EPA is getting involved. Contractors will work to remove all of the debris from the site, leaving behind a safe, blank slate.
Toledo City Council extends outdoor refreshment hours
The bar scene around downtown Toledo does not pick up until about 11 p.m., said Ed Beczynski, owner of the Blarney Irish Pub. But when the clock strikes midnight, bar-hoppers enjoying their wine or beer outside can no longer have a cup in their hand. But now, downtown bar patrons will have an extra hour to drink while they walk from one establishment to another.
Jeep rolls out plan to borrow its vehicles
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is preparing to roll out a pair of new programs for its Jeep brand that offers an alternative to the traditional leasing or ownership model that effectively locks buyers into a single vehicle for years at a time. Beginning in 2019, Fiat Chrysler will begin testing a service in which buyers of certain Jeep models — including the Toledo-built Wrangler — will receive credits they can later use to borrow other vehicles from Fiat Chrysler’s stable.
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