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Area Improvements and questions about it?

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Started 3 years ago by misskitty
Latest reply from chrisgillespie

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area improvements

misskitty
Columbus
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OK I have a few questions and I am not one to post a thread for each so I will condense them here. I would like to become more active in my community ( the Hilltop) and make it better. Right now itâ€™s the least amusing thing to look at. I have noticed There are many store fronts that could be filled. The oneâ€™s that are filled donâ€™t look great It seems like the people running the shop really donâ€™t take much in effort to make it look nice on the out side or around the area.
In the short north it seems to not be a issue as everyone keeps nice looking areas and shops inside and out. It also seems like Broad st. from the Bottoms to the Hilltop could make for a great area like the short north.
So my questions are
1. Is there a group that controls the area and itâ€™s appearance ? If so where would I go to see if they have meetings and suggestions ?
2. If there is a group why do you think they take what seems to be not much effort in the outward community appearance?
3. Am I missing something or thinking to far ahead ?
4. Also I have noticed that the City has let Glenwood park go to the shitter so to speak. At the bottom of the park itâ€™s been over grown and not taking care of why is that ? And who do I contact to inform them that they should do something about it?
Sorry if this seems like a lot I am really serious about cleaning that area up and being active in the community to make it walkable and nice. Getting new retail and restaurants in the area.

Posted 3 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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Greater Hilltop Area Commission: http://www.theghac.com/
+
http://www.hilltopbusinessassociation.org/

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Thanks Roy , Now would they be able to address the park situation also ?

Posted 3 years ago #
Motorist
The Trots
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misskitty wrote Thanks Roy , Now would they be able to address the park situation also ?
You might try the City's 311 line (645-3111 or http://311.columbus.gov/). I've had a lot of success with potholes and streetlights by calling it.

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Motorist wrote
misskitty wrote Thanks Roy , Now would they be able to address the park situation also ?
You might try the City's 311 line (645-3111 or http://311.columbus.gov/). I've had a lot of success with potholes and streetlights by calling it.
yea I'll call them too it's getting close to sledding time that park as a good hill for it but you may not know what you are running into. it's for sure been forgot about the weeds and mini trees growing are real tall.

Posted 3 years ago #
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
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311 is good to call. Don't expect immediate response, but work with them. As far as weeds in the park go, you might just want to jump in with some friends and tackle some of the issues yourself. The parks department has been underfunded, and that funding likely is only going to get worse over the next couple of years or so. Weeding and pruning of trees at Goodale Park is handled by volunteers. We also have volunteers who walk the park picking up trash. The parks department handles lights, empties trash cans, mows the grass, and did help with the wind damage cleanup. They don't have the funding for beautification. I'm not trying to speak for them, and someone may even have information on that particular park (I'm not familiar with it). However, my suggestion would be to take ownership of making things better yourself :) Best wishes on this!

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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chrisgillespie wrote 311 is good to call. Don't expect immediate response, but work with them. As far as weeds in the park go, you might just want to jump in with some friends and tackle some of the issues yourself. The parks department has been underfunded, and that funding likely is only going to get worse over the next couple of years or so. Weeding and pruning of trees at Goodale Park is handled by volunteers. We also have volunteers who walk the park picking up trash. The parks department handles lights, empties trash cans, mows the grass, and did help with the wind damage cleanup. They don't have the funding for beautification. I'm not trying to speak for them, and someone may even have information on that particular park (I'm not familiar with it). However, my suggestion would be to take ownership of making things better yourself :) Best wishes on this!
I would in a hart beat but I nor anyone I know have the tools to take care of unless someone has a few Machetes I can barrow muahahahahahahaha The grass is that high. :lol:

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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+1 to chrisgillespie
If you want to get involved, you're going to have to get your hands dirty. Simply complaining to the city to come clean up a park or the sidewalks isn't going to do anything in the long term. Neighbors, businesses, and other community groups have to come together and everyone needs to pitch in.

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Walker wrote +1 to chrisgillespie
If you want to get involved, you're going to have to get your hands dirty. Simply complaining to the city to come clean up a park or the sidewalks isn't going to do anything in the long term. Neighbors, businesses, and other community groups have to come together and everyone needs to pitch in.
I like to think that I am actively taking steps otherwise I would not have asked I don't mind getting dirty . I realize that I figured I would hit some of the meeting's up for the Hilltop and area in hopes that I can be a productive help and or member of such a thing. It's going to take a force larger then myself to make something work I know this. It needs to be better here with the shop's , parks, streets. But I also know that the city park is not the sole responsibility of people people that live in the city. They really have just let the part on Broad st go. It is a disappointment to say the least. i'm not asking for a park make over or much beautification just mow the dam grass.
I will become more active.
thanks for the help

Posted 3 years ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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You can get cleanup tools from Keep Columbus Beautiful to cleanup with so you don't have to buy your own.

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Anne wrote You can get cleanup tools from Keep Columbus Beautiful to cleanup with so you don't have to buy your own.
Yea I checked out there tool list I think to get the bulk done it would have to come from somewhere else also those say there for "home" jobs.
Good question : My street is lined with nasty cherry trees of a sort in the fall all they do it drop cherry bombs on the cars it's nasty you basically have to power wash them off we called the city to let them know that they were going to be taking a trip bye but the city informed us we can not touch them.
Whats with that ? So what makes me think there going to be cool with a group of people wacking there park ?

Posted 3 years ago #
Likes Old Houses
Harrison West
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The trees in the curb lawn belong to the city. If you destroy them you will be chared for their replacements, and if the are worth more then $500, you will be charged with a felony. You can request that the City come out and prune them. I don't know what your options are for replacing them.

Posted 3 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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Likes Old Houses wrote The trees in the curb lawn belong to the city. If you destroy them you will be chared for their replacements, and if the are worth more then $500, you will be charged with a felony. You can request that the City come out and prune them. I don't know what your options are for replacing them.
Interesting. One of the Bradford pear trees (probably what misskitty is talking about) in my treelawn was removed to accomodate work on the water line from the street into my house. Do you know if I am allowed to replant on my own, or if the city will do it for me? And if the city does it - can I pick something other than a pear tree? I was thinking a linden would be nice - hardy and would create some great shade to keep my cooling costs down over time.

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Yea see thatâ€™s the thing I know if we were to remove those trees they would fine us. Does anyone think they would raise a stink if we were in there park removing the various types of situations that have grown out of control ?

Posted 3 years ago #
Likes Old Houses
Harrison West
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joev wrote
Likes Old Houses wrote The trees in the curb lawn belong to the city. If you destroy them you will be chared for their replacements, and if the are worth more then $500, you will be charged with a felony. You can request that the City come out and prune them. I don't know what your options are for replacing them.
Interesting. One of the Bradford pear trees (probably what misskitty is talking about) in my treelawn was removed to accomodate work on the water line from the street into my house. Do you know if I am allowed to replant on my own, or if the city will do it for me? And if the city does it - can I pick something other than a pear tree? I was thinking a linden would be nice - hardy and would create some great shade to keep my cooling costs down over time.
The Park and Rec department handles the street trees, and I am sure you can't plant your own, since it is in the city right-of-way. I also don't know if you have a say in what kind of tree they replace it with. You should call the 311 line. Since the big wind storm took up so much of their time this fall, they didn't get a bunch of trees planted in our neighborhood that they planned to, so they may be back logged.

Posted 3 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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[quote="Likes Old Houses"]
joev wrote
Likes Old Houses wrote The trees in the curb lawn belong to the city. If you destroy them you will be chared for their replacements, and if the are worth more then $500, you will be charged with a felony. You can request that the City come out and prune them. I don't know what your options are for replacing them.
The Park and Rec department handles the street trees, and I am sure you can't plant your own, since it is in the city right-of-way. I also don't know if you have a say in what kind of tree they replace it with. You should call the 311 line. Since the big wind storm took up so much of their time this fall, they didn't get a bunch of trees planted in our neighborhood that they planned to, so they may be back logged.
Thanks!

Posted 3 years ago #
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
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misskitty wrote Yea see thatâ€™s the thing I know if we were to remove those trees they would fine us. Does anyone think they would raise a stink if we were in there park removing the various types of situations that have grown out of control ?
OK, I've talked with my contact at Parks and Rec, and will give you some contacts that you can join with the make your park better. Before doing that, I think I should add: improving your area will, at least partially, come down to attitude. Anne and Walker have provided some great resources here, especially Keep Columbus Beautiful. If you are able to pull together some friends, the city would probably be thrilled to give you a spotlight and pat on the back for your hard work -- as long as you approach them cooperatively. Getting adversarial isn't going to, you know, win friends and influence people, huh? :wink:
So here's some folks in your area that if you call them and ask if there are volunteer groups already, or tell them you're willing to help out where they need it, I'm sure they can help get the ball rolling. You might want to first try to get some friends committed to this, too, and then start in spring -- but that's your call.
If you pursue this, and run into issues, please don't argue with these folks. PM me, and I'll help you get through setting up a regular cleanup team -- if you provide the labor. If you make an enemy of these folks, you'll put us in a more difficult position -- just sayin'... They have a lot on their plates, too. And seriously, if you can commit a team (half a dozen or more) to working in the park, then I will help you set it up...
Decided to PM the contact information to you, rather than post those folks names and numbers/emails. Expect that shortly...

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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chrisgillespie wrote
misskitty wrote Yea see thatâ€™s the thing I know if we were to remove those trees they would fine us. Does anyone think they would raise a stink if we were in there park removing the various types of situations that have grown out of control ?
OK, I've talked with my contact at Parks and Rec, and will give you some contacts that you can join with the make your park better. Before doing that, I think I should add: improving your area will, at least partially, come down to attitude. Anne and Walker have provided some great resources here, especially Keep Columbus Beautiful. If you are able to pull together some friends, the city would probably be thrilled to give you a spotlight and pat on the back for your hard work -- as long as you approach them cooperatively. Getting adversarial isn't going to, you know, win friends and influence people, huh? :wink:
So here's some folks in your area that if you call them and ask if there are volunteer groups already, or tell them you're willing to help out where they need it, I'm sure they can help get the ball rolling. You might want to first try to get some friends committed to this, too, and then start in spring -- but that's your call.
If you pursue this, and run into issues, please don't argue with these folks. PM me, and I'll help you get through setting up a regular cleanup team -- if you provide the labor. If you make an enemy of these folks, you'll put us in a more difficult position -- just sayin'... They have a lot on their plates, too. And seriously, if you can commit a team (half a dozen or more) to working in the park, then I will help you set it up...
Decided to PM the contact information to you, rather than post those folks names and numbers/emails. Expect that shortly...
I got it ! thanks I am on it! I would love to get involved :D

Posted 3 years ago #
Matthew
Hilltop
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Likes Old Houses wrote The trees in the curb lawn belong to the city. If you destroy them you will be chared for their replacements, and if the are worth more then $500, you will be charged with a felony. You can request that the City come out and prune them. I don't know what your options are for replacing them.
This is wonderful news! The tree in my curb lawn is hurting the sewer line...guess that means the city can deal with it eh?

Posted 3 years ago #
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
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misskitty wrote
I got it ! thanks I am on it! I would love to get involved :D
Cool, cool! Thanks. Hearing this has energized me, too :) Wishing you all the best...

Posted 3 years ago #