After a year of major infrastructure projects and a bicentennial celebration, Streetsboro will focus this year on building community, said Mayor Glenn Broska in his State of the City talk Feb. 15.
“Our city started with humble beginnings with a largely agricultural community, to one of the premier locations in Northeast Ohio,” Broska said. “It was our pleasure to showcase where it all began and where we are going.”
In 2022, Streetsboro devoted much of its resources to the downtown infrastructure along state Routes 43 and 14. With projects such as the resurfacing of Frost Road and the widening of both state routes, the city now boasts some of the highest-rated pavement conditions compared to neighboring communities, evaluated by an outside firm, Broska said.
Now, the city and its employees are focusing on the importance of nurturing community within the city. A new master plan process will soon begin, Broska’s third master plan since taking office 11 years ago.
Broska reflected on some of the parks projects that were accomplished in 2022, such as new basketball and sand volleyball courts, as well as the refurbishment of the city’s tennis courts. After receiving a $250,000 grant from the state last year, the Parks and Recreation Department will be creating a new park on Aurora-Hudson Road.
“I’m always glad for parks,” Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett said. “Quality of life is a big determining factor for a lot of people, besides jobs and schools — it’s quality of life, and the parks always add to that factor.”
One of the biggest developments coming to Streetsboro is the creation of the city’s first community center, which will become the permanent home to both the senior center and the Parks and Recreation Department. Construction of the 7,400-square-foot building is set to begin within the next few months and will not require any financing for the project.
“This is a strong testament to being mindful of our funding,” Broska said at the speech at St. Joan of Arc Church. “Our hope is in the next year we can have the State of the City in our own building. We have needed it for some time, and I’m very happy that we will see this come to fruition this year.”
The planning commission approved the site plan for the facility the night before the city address. It will include a gathering place with a capacity for 150 people, and other areas that can accommodate 50-100 people, creating a new central hub for community events.
Streetsboro is on solid financial footing, Broska said. There’s been a 71% increase of tax revenue under his leadership and a continued increase of the city’s general fund revenue.
“We’ve welcomed hundreds of good-paying, career-oriented jobs for our residents to work at right here in their backyard,” Broska said. “These jobs are a major reason why we have a strong financial position.”
Other highlights include plans for another part-time school resources officer to be added to the school system, a 16% increase in calls to the city fire department and the addition of the city’s own engineering department.
Broska did not mention the recently announced city moratorium on hotels, motels and car washes to investigate the city’s current market conditions.
