7th Ward Coalition Delivers for Residents

The 7th Ward Citizens Coalition Plans for 2010

With everything from yard sales to beautification projects to even chartering new groups, Autumn proved a fruitful season for Youngstown’s 7th Ward, whose residents also kept an eye on 2010.

The 7th Ward Citizens Coalition (7WCC) Annual Yard Sale on Midlothian kicked off the season with a successful turnout netting $1,400 for the organization. 7WCC kept the momentum going by participating in a tree planting, spearheaded by 7WCC board member and Powerston Block Watch Member Mary Krupa. The busy corridor saw the addition of several trees planted by area residents with the assistance of Treez Please and City Forrester Dave Sturtz.

Other beautification projects in the neighborhood included the Boulevard Park Block Watch landscaping project funded by the Neighborhood SUCCESS Grant program, and the Buckeye Eyes and Ears Block fencing improvements on Buckeye Circle. The year was rounded out with a maintenance and landscaping project at the intersection of Youngstown-Poland Road and East Midlothian Boulevard.

The 7WCC also successfully finalized plans for their historical neighborhood signage project, funded by the Wean Foundation’s Neighborhood SUCCESS Grant program.

7WCC President Patricia Dougan is pleased about the project’s community-building emphasis.

(The project will) “create a sense of history, rebuild hometown pride in neighborhood community and revitalize the strength of neighborhood attachments by recognizing the historical areas and boundaries,” said Dougan.

Spring of 2010 will see the addition of five new signs displaying the historic names of 7th ward neighborhoods including Brownlee Woods, Lansingville, Cochran Run, Buckeye Plat and Boulevard Park.

To assure the continued success of such projects throughout the 7th Ward, two additional neighborhood groups were formed in October: Brownlee Woods I, which includes residents from East Midlothian Boulevard to Wakefield Avenue, and Brownlee Woods II, which includes residents from Bancroft to Lynn Avenues. The two new organizations bring the total number of neighborhood groups to an impressive 13 in the ward.

The northern sector of the ward was also quite productive. The South Avenue Area Neighborhood Development Initiative (SAANDI) canvassed neighborhoods and surveyed problem property - parcel by parcel – to identify and prioritize the issues. Initiative members have also begun working with area elementary schools and businesses on a neighborhood art project. Boarding materials for vacant homes will be painted and installed throughout Winter and Spring 2010.

As both SAANDI and 7WCC gathered to celebrate their respective Holiday Parties, 7WCC board member Chris Travers took time to look to the year ahead. 2010 will prove to be a productive year as projects such as the cleanups and improvements of Buckeye Park, the Lansingville Parade Route and Powers Cemetery unfold and the Midlothian Corridor Project and 7th Ward Parks Committee take flight.

“It’s the people that make it all go,” said Travers. “We’ve been fortunate to have dedicated core group of leaders of the years, and now we are excited that 2010 will reveal even more leaders in making our good 7th Ward neighborhoods great.”

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