19 minutes ago, Cleburger said:

Proper maintenance = the City of Cleveland cannot be in charge.   They struggle to maintain their current assignments.  Any future parks need to be put under the stewardship of the Metroparks.  

I’m well aware. I have three properties downtown and I have to pay two grand a year so someone else can do the city of Cleveland’s job.

The Trust for Public Land has updated Cleveland's park score, give it a look! The score is based on several factors, including equity, park access and amenities, acreage and more. Its map of where parks are most needed in Cleveland (so that everyone is within a 10 minute walk of a park) is interesting food for thought! Overall it looks similar to last year's report. 

 

https://www.tpl.org/city/cleveland-ohio

 

The Trust for Public Land has done a lot in terms of land conservation in and around Cleveland (as well as the whole country) including from downtown parks to large purchases in CVNP. You can explore their past purchases at the link(s) below. They've done a lot to preserve nature against the threat of sprawl, as well as provide parks to poorly served areas. 

 

https://lwcf.tplgis.org/mappast/

https://www.tpl.org/our-work/cuyahoga-valley-national-park

https://www.tpl.org/media-room/new-parkland-planned-clevelands-flats-district-oh

 

 

Continuing the conversation thread above: Public Square is starting to piss me off. I count at least 13 severely distressed trees, and about half of the lawn is brown. That's not to mention that nearly every single flower bed is full of weeds. I'm worried that by the time someone in the city bothers to take care of it, or wises up and decides to transfer it to the Metro parks (near) permanent damage will have been done (such as dead, hard to remove and replace, trees). 

16 hours ago, Ethan said:

Continuing the conversation thread above: Public Square is starting to piss me off. I count at least 13 severely distressed trees, and about half of the lawn is brown. That's not to mention that nearly every single flower bed is full of weeds. I'm worried that by the time someone in the city bothers to take care of it, or wises up and decides to transfer it to the Metro parks (near) permanent damage will have been done (such as dead, hard to remove and replace, trees). 

@Ethan  Thank you for highlighting this important concern.  I ask this only because I am an out of state resident, is there a public office or other means to contact the city to Cleveland to register this horticultural maintenance issue?  

2 hours ago, DO_Summers said:

@Ethan  Thank you for highlighting this important concern.  I ask this only because I am an out of state resident, is there a public office or other means to contact the city to Cleveland to register this horticultural maintenance issue?  

I believe the Group Plan Commission (https://www.groupplan.org) is in charge of maintaining Public Square. I dont know if they’ve contracted out maintenance to another body like DCA though.

2 hours ago, DO_Summers said:

@Ethan  Thank you for highlighting this important concern.  I ask this only because I am an out of state resident, is there a public office or other means to contact the city to Cleveland to register this horticultural maintenance issue?  

 

The City contracts with the Group Plan Commission to perform programming and maintenance for the square: https://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/2020/10/cleveland-commits-500000-toward-upkeep-programming-at-downtowns-public-square.html.  They've been responsive to concerns raised in the past: https://www.groupplan.org/

5 hours ago, DO_Summers said:

@Ethan  Thank you for highlighting this important concern.  I ask this only because I am an out of state resident, is there a public office or other means to contact the city to Cleveland to register this horticultural maintenance issue?  

Only laugh reacting bc I know how the admin and their folks prob would respond lol

22 hours ago, Ethan said:

Continuing the conversation thread above: Public Square is starting to piss me off. I count at least 13 severely distressed trees, and about half of the lawn is brown. That's not to mention that nearly every single flower bed is full of weeds. I'm worried that by the time someone in the city bothers to take care of it, or wises up and decides to transfer it to the Metro parks (near) permanent damage will have been done (such as dead, hard to remove and replace, trees). 

Shameful treatment for a public square named just outside the top 10 in America  by experts in the field - such as the editor of “Public Square: CNU Journal”, which focuses on best practices in urbanism. 
 

I mostly try to post positively,  - but, in this case, I feel a familiar sense that City officials sometimes fail to fully appreciate the city’s own potential jewels - and the importance of meticulously maintaining if not improving public spaces.  

Edited May 28, 20214 yr by CleveFan
Focus on quote

4 hours ago, grayfields said:

The City contracts with the Group Plan Commission to perform programming and maintenance for the square: https://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/2020/10/cleveland-commits-500000-toward-upkeep-programming-at-downtowns-public-square.html.  They've been responsive to concerns raised in the past: https://www.groupplan.org/

Thank you!  As a means of a letter writing campaign, if a number of us register our concern perhaps it will catch someone's notice.   I filled in the "contact us" sheet on their website and notified them that this topic was being discussed on this forum.   Go team!   

On 5/28/2021 at 1:57 PM, grayfields said:

The City contracts with the Group Plan Commission to perform programming and maintenance for the square: https://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/2020/10/cleveland-commits-500000-toward-upkeep-programming-at-downtowns-public-square.html.  They've been responsive to concerns raised in the past: https://www.groupplan.org/

UPDATE:   Well, I am impressed.   Here is a copy of the emailed response from Sanaa Julien, the CEO of the Group Plan Commission with just a minor edit to remove her email address. 

 

"Thank you for sending this feedback. I truly appreciate hearing from members of our community. I did read a few of the posts on the forum and would like to offer you some insight. First, Group Plan Commission works with three different arborist teams on the health of the trees in Public Square. Many things, as you know, can affect the health of the trees and we do follow up on questions or concerns from the public. If you are able to provide the location of each of the fourteen trees identified, I will be happy to reach out the team of arborists and get their opinions on the health of the trees. With regards to the weeds - many of the native plants that may appear as weeds are actually not, and were intentionally planted to create a feeling of an open field in the heart of the city. These plans were all reviewed by the many involved parties and it was decided that this approach achieved the architectural aesthetic that the community was trying to achieve. We do have our landscape team at Royal Landscape survey the area regularly. I will ask them to provide an update based on your communication. And finally, with regards to the lawn. We are aware of the situation on the green and are addressing it. We are trying to learn what caused the issue and how to fix it. Please feel free to reach out to me directly.  I am happy to listen to your insights. Most Sincerely, Sanaa Julien CEO Group Plan Commission."

 

Can @Ethanor someone familiar with the condition of the individual trees and gardens in question on the square respond to Sanaa Julien directly through the website or by email to help identify more specifics?   I live out of state and was just hoping to get the ball rolling.   

 

Now, if we can get this sort of dialogue with similar officials representing other interested parties developing plans on the square (cough, cough.  Hello future Paint Museum!), UO forum members can stand proudly of their civic involvement. 

 

DO 

 

 

  

1 hour ago, DO_Summers said:

With regards to the weeds - many of the native plants that may appear as weeds are actually not, and were intentionally planted to create a feeling of an open field in the heart of the city. These plans were all reviewed by the many involved parties and it was decided that this approach achieved the architectural aesthetic that the community was trying to achieve.

Ugh.  In a city with 1/3 of its peak population and huge swaths of urban prairies, we intentionally designed an "open field" in the heart of the city?   I haven't liked the new Public Square from the start and this response just reinforced it.  

I agree with @Cleburger

about the garden style described for this setting.

 

Also; reporting to the authority about tree problems, then having that authority respond by asking the writer to go back and return with more details was... SMH!!!

 

"If you are able to provide the location of each of the fourteen trees identified, I will be happy to reach out the team of arborists and get their opinions on the health of the trees."  - WTH?

 

Isn't it the job of an arborist to do this work on a regular basis without prompting?  - Park maintenance in the economic & tourism center of downtown Cleveland should not be a complaint-driven process. 

 

Edited May 31, 20214 yr by ExPatClevGuy
Specificity

On 5/30/2021 at 11:02 AM, DO_Summers said:

UPDATE:   Well, I am impressed.   Here is a copy of the emailed response from Sanaa Julien, the CEO of the Group Plan Commission with just a minor edit to remove her email address. 

 

"Thank you for sending this feedback. I truly appreciate hearing from members of our community. I did read a few of the posts on the forum and would like to offer you some insight. First, Group Plan Commission works with three different arborist teams on the health of the trees in Public Square. Many things, as you know, can affect the health of the trees and we do follow up on questions or concerns from the public. If you are able to provide the location of each of the fourteen trees identified, I will be happy to reach out the team of arborists and get their opinions on the health of the trees. With regards to the weeds - many of the native plants that may appear as weeds are actually not, and were intentionally planted to create a feeling of an open field in the heart of the city. These plans were all reviewed by the many involved parties and it was decided that this approach achieved the architectural aesthetic that the community was trying to achieve. We do have our landscape team at Royal Landscape survey the area regularly. I will ask them to provide an update based on your communication. And finally, with regards to the lawn. We are aware of the situation on the green and are addressing it. We are trying to learn what caused the issue and how to fix it. Please feel free to reach out to me directly.  I am happy to listen to your insights. Most Sincerely, Sanaa Julien CEO Group Plan Commission."

 

Can @Ethanor someone familiar with the condition of the individual trees and gardens in question on the square respond to Sanaa Julien directly through the website or by email to help identify more specifics?   I live out of state and was just hoping to get the ball rolling.   

 

Now, if we can get this sort of dialogue with similar officials representing other interested parties developing plans on the square (cough, cough.  Hello future Paint Museum!), UO forum members can stand proudly of their civic involvement. 

 

DO 

 

 

  

I'll try and shoot them an email response eventually, (I just got back from a weekend trip) but the response they sent you is disheartening, though I guess it's good that they responded.

 

I've attached a picture of Public Square, the trees around Rebol are the most obviously distressed, so obviously that the person messaging you is either giving you the run around, or hasn't seen Public Square in weeks. 

 

Also, I used to work maintenance at a golf course, I know what a weedy bed looks like, if the beds currently look as intended than whoever is in charge of landscaping aught to be fired. 

 

I'm actually know they are aware of the grass problem, because while I was attending a city sponsored yoga on the square session (which had two city parks employees standing around watching) they turned the sprinklers on, getting all the attendees wet. It was kind of funny, but unfortunately also seems to be indicative of the sort of incompetence that would allow public square to degenerate into this state to begin with. 

 

Edit: @DO_Summers where should I send the email to? 

Edited June 1, 20214 yr by Ethan
Added question

That picture is disheartening.  I also wonder why the stonework around Rebol looks so discolored.  Does it need a good power wash to restore it? Why are the decorative beds surrounding The Soldiers and sailors Monument bare? Has LAND Studio ever been approached on why they do not contribute to the maintenance and well being of the projects they are involved in?  

Edited May 31, 20214 yr by dave2017

For the trees around the water feature - is there an underground watering system for them? If not, it's no surprise that they would be dying. There's only a tiny open area around them for any rain water to percolate down. It's obvious that all of the stoned-over trees look much less healthy than the others.

Not surprised about the grass issue. Keeping a lawn nice is an intense upkeep battle and even then there is nothing you can do about overuse outside of resoding a bunch or keeping people off of it.

^ The main reason it’s so yellow is people letting their dogs pee all over it. 
Yes, I hate dogs. 

They should cut the grass higher. The grass is currently cut very low. This is a high stress state for the grass, and it requires a lot of upkeep to manage, add in its high use and anyone would find it difficult to maintain. The city is clearly not up to the challenge. The grass will be much more resilient if they let it grow a bit taller.

14 hours ago, Ethan said:

They should cut the grass higher. The grass is currently cut very low. This is a high stress state for the grass, and it requires a lot of upkeep to manage, add in its high use and anyone would find it difficult to maintain. The city is clearly not up to the challenge. The grass will be much more resilient if they let it grow a bit taller.

Crazy picture, Ethan.   Thanks for putting this whole topic up for discussion.  I agree with the sentiment that the responsible arborists / landscapers should be on top of this and should not need a public discussion board to bring it to their attention.  

@Ethan  Two weeks have past since I notified Sanna Julien of the picture you posted .. have you or anyone else noticed any activity that an arborist or landscaper working for the Group Plan Commission has stepped forward to care for the ailing trees, grass, and flower beds?  

 

Cheers.  

 

D.O. 

On 6/13/2021 at 9:55 PM, DO_Summers said:

@Ethan  Two weeks have past since I notified Sanna Julien of the picture you posted .. have you or anyone else noticed any activity that an arborist or landscaper working for the Group Plan Commission has stepped forward to care for the ailing trees, grass, and flower beds?  

 

Cheers.  

 

D.O. 

I haven't noticed anything, that doesn't mean it hasn't happened though. Other than the lawn, which finally got some rain, the square looks more or less the same. A few trees look a little less dead, but other trees look like they've gotten worse. 

Lawn looked fine today. Not sure if it was the rain lately or human intervention. It was soaked to the bone though when I walked across this afternoon so I'm assuming it was watered today. Btw I hate that feeling, soggy grass. I mean I dislike grass overall but, wet, squishy, boggy lawns are the worst. Also they were planting flowers and mulching beds around S&S monument. So things are getting cared for, eventually here. 

Oh, and my favorite sight today was the fencing along the sidewalk on east roadway (to the side of us courthouse) is down! Replaced with ballords. Not sure how recent this change was made, it was the first I noticed it. It gives me hope for the jersey barriers in the square though. The fencing predated the jersey barriers. So maybe it just takes 5 years to order, manufacture and then receive these special bollards we want. PS is next... Hold in the there!

 

Three fewer dying trees on Public Square! /s 

 

Edit: four. :(

Edited June 22, 20213 yr by Ethan
Missed at least one

Does anyone know why the pavers always look stained?  Do they ever power wash them?  I have also noticed many of the splash fountain's spray nozzles are not aligned anymore.   I am just confused on whims in charge of maintaining Public Square. It is a shame that a park that is only 5 years old is beginning to show such wear and tear

Given the city's track record I doubt those trees will be replaced... and if they are they will soon be dead again. Hoping to see a different result but history isn't giving me a lot of optimism

4 hours ago, Ethan said:

Three fewer dying trees on Public Square! /s 

 

Edit: four. :(

I assume they installed an under pavement drip system for these trees sites.  I wonder if it was even functional. Too bad. 

 

If you want to debate politics, we have a thread for the mayoral race and the Jackson administration.  Talk about it there.  Discussion here needs to stay related to Downtown parks.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

Public Square's north side may be artists' canvas

 

Two significant art installations could turn the north side of downtown Cleveland's Public Square into a bright, uplifting and active canvas. The canvas would be two historic buildings that may come alive with stories about Cleveland using not only imagery, but also light and sound on select nights.

 

Those two buildings are the Old Stone Church and the blank backside of The Standard apartment tower. The feature-less south side of The Standard, 99 W. St. Clair Ave. has cried out to be finished since the terra cotta structure was built in 1923.

 

MORE

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2021/06/public-squares-north-side-may-be.html

I love this video mapping projecting onto buildings.  I would love to see this applied to The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on all 4 sides. This way the public has a larger unobstructed view from Public Square. It also would be amazing to witness this driving west on Euclid Ave towards the monument.

Again why hasn't the Old Stone Church sold the air rights over their back building yet? Seems to me you could easily fit 7 condos a floor there, which based on location and views would be some of the best in town. 

701 lakeside has a units selling for 400-500k.

So 7 units times 25 floors times 400K gives 70 million. That's gotta be getting fairly close to what a building would actually cost there right?

OMGosh, that gorgeously detailed architectural gem of a historic church .

Well, I guess nothing is sacred. They might as well just tear it down now and put up a TV panel.

 

Projecting onto the the Standard Building wall is fine with me tho.

 

Edited June 26, 20213 yr by ExPatClevGuy

As for Public Square park views from a potential tower behind Old Stone, and the improvement of our Public Square park by killing that 20 story masonry wall... My good friend's church on Mt Vernon Square in DC (Mt Vernon United Methodist) is across from the convention center, and on it's own elegant square too. On Mt Vernon Square is the former Carnegie central library of DC (now an Apple Store.)

 

They cut a great deal with developers and got parking, classrooms, increased meeting space and more.  Congregation parking is used Sundays when the office building is dormant for the weekend. It was an excellent bargain for the property behind their beautiful church. The congregation and the City of DC worked closely to get a sympathetic design.

 

 

Edited June 26, 20213 yr by ExPatClevGuy

5 minutes ago, ExPatClevGuy said:

OMGosh, that gorgeously detailed historic church .

Well, I guess nothing is sacred. They might as well just tear it down and put up a TV panel.

 

Projecting onto the the Standard Building wall is fine with me tho.

 

While I understand where you're coming from, a think a light show would work well here. It's not permanent, it's one more thing to draw people to the area, and if done well, it could look really incredible! What I'm most looking forward to is the permanent mural on the blank side of the standard. That would certainly brighten up the drab old background that looms over the church/public square, and FRONT seems like a great organization to make something special happen there.

"If well done" is the thing of course and subject to opinion. 

The example shown of Lone Star Beer ads & Texas themes being projected is a fairly off-putting maquette sample. 

 

Also that church lit up at night already... is already well done. 

What Cleveland holds as important in the built environment defines who we are as a city.

As a place for contemplation & simple beauty that church means more to folk than it does as a billboard for one or a few people's individual artistic statements/endeavors.

 

Edited June 26, 20213 yr by ExPatClevGuy

31 minutes ago, ExPatClevGuy said:

 

That would be a perfect sign to project onto a church on Alcoholics Anonymous night.

Edited June 26, 20213 yr by David

Finally! At long last we finally have plans to address the big blank wall. 

 

I didn't see plans for a light show using the church as canvas as part of the solution but l like it. On it's own the church is classic and the existing lighting has been a welcome addition but the image in the article really takes it up to "11" if you get the reference. Old Stone Church certainly wasn't broke, nevertheless a light/music show of that quality can only add to Public Square. 

 

My real beef is with the Standard's big blank wall. A well designed mural would mitigate the worst of it l suppose. But my first choice would be to construct a condo building above the church annex. Like originaljbw said, those views would sell themselves.

This is pretty cool, but wish they'd have brought in a local artist as a collaborator. Plenty of talent here to give it a more Cleveland feel. 

 

I also wonder how operational it will be in a couple years? Projection lamps don't last forever and bulbs for something like this are expensive. 

 

For the wall, it would be better if there was a sculptural light piece that takes on one design during the day, but transforms at night to an interactive light sculpture. Would be a signature attraction for the city and square. Kind of like what was installed on top of Worthington Yards, but bigger.

Does anyone know if the city ever decided what to do with the old FirstEnergy power plant? 

 

https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/getmedia/f4fbec75-6ed2-40c5-abea-f5e2368723b3/CLE-2017_FirstEnergy_Lakeshore_Reuse.pdf.ashx

 

I'd personally love to see it grouped in with the CHEERS plan, along with the Green Ribbon Coalition's plan to move I-90 to tell create an East Side Edgewater. Combining all three is a pipe dream that probably won't happen. Regardless, there's some good potential to make this into public space, and combine it into Gordon Park, regardless of if I-90 is moved. 

Cleveland recognized here as one of America’s top river cities.
 

https://www.americanrivers.org/2021/08/your-pick-for-americas-best-river-towns/

To think of where the river ( and the city) were 50 years ago - and the Renaissance that has occurred since - it’s pretty amazing.  
 

Also, to be reminded of the natural assets this city once took for granted and now is really beginning to appreciate and utilize - I feel like the best is definitely still to come

 

Let’s get beyond studies and committees and get the lakefront together. 
 

Thanks for sharing that piece, @Sapper Daddy

Historic downtown mural will be brought back to life, mini-park spruced up

Lee Chilcote - TheLand - Sep. 14, 2021

 

"One of Cleveland’s oldest downtown murals is being brought back to life as part of a celebration of the role of public art in the city. “Life is Sharing the Same Park Bench,” a mural by artist John Morrell at East 9th Street and Rockwell in downtown Cleveland, will be restored this month along with the city-owned mini-park around it. ... In addition to Morrell’s historic mural, which was last restored in 1993 and is now marred by fading and chipped paint, the park around the mural will also be spruced up with new benches and plantings."

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/canalwaypartners/posts/10159215366136405

Finally!

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/03/mayor-justin-bibb-wants-cleveland-to-spend-15-million-to-replace-concrete-barriers-in-public-square-with-less-obtrusive-bollards.html

4 minutes ago, Ethan said:

Finally!

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/03/mayor-justin-bibb-wants-cleveland-to-spend-15-million-to-replace-concrete-barriers-in-public-square-with-less-obtrusive-bollards.html

Man, what a change from the last administration. Such a simple decision, but truly awesome after years of ugly barriers there ruining a perfectly fine design. 

1 hour ago, downtownjoe said:

Man, what a change from the last administration. Such a simple decision, but truly awesome after years of ugly barriers there ruining a perfectly fine design. 

 

Exactly.  This and the urgency and new attitude towards the West Side Market have already set this Mayor lightyears apart from the previous in huge ways.  

Hopefully the shabby planters in the Superior media are next.

Median  

 

The Trust for Public Land has released their annual parkscore ratings. Very similar story to previous years. Cleveland is doing pretty well by most metrics with the notable exceptions of overall acreage and certain amenities like dog parks.

 

https://www.tpl.org/city/cleveland-ohio

8 hours ago, Ethan said:

The Trust for Public Land has released their annual parkscore ratings. Very similar story to previous years. Cleveland is doing pretty well by most metrics with the notable exceptions of overall acreage and certain amenities like dog parks.

 

https://www.tpl.org/city/cleveland-ohio

 

With such a large study it's hard to account for equity of parks - green space is one thing but quality of amenities is another.

 

The other day I was riding around and came across a park and all the hoops were in terrible shape and court looked like it was last paved/maintained in 1996. I know we've pushed a lot of expectations on the Bibb administration (how can you not after Frank...) but here's to hoping that his people are working to fix this divide.

9 hours ago, Ethan said:

The Trust for Public Land has released their annual parkscore ratings. Very similar story to previous years. Cleveland is doing pretty well by most metrics with the notable exceptions of overall acreage and certain amenities like dog parks.

 

https://www.tpl.org/city/cleveland-ohio

 

Y'know what would really help overall acreage? What if we could have a huge sort of central park, maybe 400-450 acres or so. Maybe near the lake, or better yet, on the lake. What if there were some huge piece of asphalt or some failing money-sink business we could replace. And if only said huge piece of asphalt or money-sink business were already owned by the city. Wouldn't that just be tailor made to become one of the greatest urban parks in the United States?

 

Ah well. "If only."

The ParkScore thing can be very misleading.  It doesn't take the quality of parks into account and it mis-categorizes several spaces that either are parks or should not be considered parks.  I realize that TPL would have to commit a lot of resources to more accurately evaluate the cities, and that's not really the goal of the parkscore project. 

 

Looking over the Parkscore map, a couple of things jump out as odd. For example, one of the worst places to live in Cleveland for access to parks is Lakeview Cemetery. Hmm. Another park-starved area is the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the Shaker Lakes Nature Center and its trails and wooded areas. But in Ohio City, people benefit from the park that is inside the new Franklin traffic circle. 

 

Many schools in Cleveland have playgrounds and large open grassy areas that serve as parks, but the Parkscore doesn't take those into account.