Why Families Live in Ohio City
Great urban neighborhoods are defined by well-designed public spaces, people filled streets and pathways, active storefronts, and a sense of history and discovery. Simply put, great neighborhoods have their own distinctive identity and personality. You know when you’ve arrived. And once you’re there, you feel not just comfortable but compelled to explore. The physical fabric and visual character of the neighborhood draws people in, makes them want to stay, and brings them back time and again.
With green space in urban settings at a premium, Ohio City is proud to feature several parks that offer the opportunity for a sporting game of soccer or softball, swingsets for the kids, or just a wide expanse of grass for relaxing with a picnic basket and good book.
Fairview Park, bordered by Franklin, West 32nd Street, and West 38th Street is one of Ohio City’s largest park, with a well-tended softball diamond and plenty of open space for football, soccer, Frisbee and other such pursuits. At the northwest corner of the park is the Kentucky Garden, a community garden from which all sorts of vegetables spring each fall.
Offering a unique vantage point from which to view sunsets on Lake Erie is Jim Mahon Park, a narrow ribbon of grass along Detroit Avenue between West 30th Street and West 32nd Street named in memory of a longtime Ohio City resident who was active in the neighborhood's rebirth.
Mahon Park is just south of Ohio City's "front yard," so to speak: Whiskey Island. This spit of land--actually a peninsula connected by a ribbon of road accessible at Edgewater Park--sports several interesting features, including the Whiskey Island Marina, the Sunset Grille bar (voted Best Island Bar 2007 by Scene) and Wendy Park. Wendy Park itself has a set of sand volleyball courts as well as a trail that takes visitors across a narrow causeway to the Art Deco coast guard station (currently abandoned but the subject of numerous redevelopment proposals. The view of downtown, Lakewood's Gold Coast, and the confluence of the Cuyahoga and Lake Erie is unrivalled.
At the southern boundary of Ohio City, between West 30th and West 33rd streets, is the historic Monroe Cemetery, one of the city's oldest memorial gardens. Many of Ohio City's earliest residents and influential families are buried here. Although not technically a park, Monroe Cemetery is flush with large, mature trees and striking
headstones and monuments that make it a tranquil getaway from the bustle of the surrounding city.
Several other smaller parks--many with playground equipment for children--are sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.
Garret Morgan/New Tech
Garret Morgan’s mission is to produce graduates who are prepared for success well into the 21st century. It is a school that serves children in grades 9 thru 12. The diverse student demographics include 47.6% African Americans, 23.8% Hispanics, 24.4% Caucasians, and 4.4% of others. They have a current enrollment of 126 students in with 20% of whom are special needs and 9% of whom are identified as English language learners.
Kentucky Elementary
Kentucky is a 70 year old school that is currently being repaired. In the interim, the children are presently being taught at the Brooklawn School. Kentucky school is scheduled to reopen fully repaired for the fall 2011 school year.
Orchard Elementary School of Sciences
Orchard offers students in grades Pre K-8, hands on programming that gives them an opportunity to solve real world problems through PBL – a Problem Based Learning design system. The PBL program helps students prepare themselves for real world challenges. This creates a learning environment which encourages the student to gravitate towards a deeper understanding of the environment around them.
Dunbar Elementary
Dunbar School serves children in the Pre K-8 grades. The school is currently being rebuilt at a cost of 15.2 million dollars. When it is finished it will be comprised of over 16,200 square feet and will serve 450 students. The new school building is anticipated to be completed for the fall school year 2013.
Saint Ignatius High School
Saint Ignatius is a Catholic High School serving grades 9-12. The school was designated as the 2009 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Almost 100% of St. Ignatius students continue on to a 4 year college or university.
Urban Community School
Urban Community School serves children in grades preschool through 8th grade. It is a Catholic/Christian school that provides quality, individual education to children living in the near west side neighborhoods of Cleveland. Urban Community was the 1st elementary school in Cleveland to receive The Excellence in Education Award from the U.S. Department of Education.
Near West Intergenerational School
Near West Intergenerational is a Free, K-2 school (eventually expanding to a K-8 model).
The school is teacher focused and boasts a 1/16 teacher to student ratio. It follows an award winning intergenerational program that encourages both family and community involvement.
Arts and Sciences Preparatory Academy
Arts and Sciences Academy is a free school that serves children in the K thru 8th grades. The school implements a thematic, interactive program which encompasses multiple learning styles. It also boasts a fully integrated technology center that is used on a daily bases with a ratio of one computer for every 3 students.