Mayor's Report

As the year comes to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the progress of our many initiatives and share what is planned as we approach the holiday season.

Over the past months, we completed the construction documents for the Chagrin River Trail, the Osborne Park Slope Stabilization Project, and our renovated Police Station. All three projects are now in the bidding phase. Once bids are received, we will establish construction schedules for all three projects. With these, 2025 is looking like a remarkably busy construction season!

Additionally, we received bids and awarded contracts for the River Street Slope Stabilization Project. We are happy to report the bids came in under budget, and construction is expected to begin in early 2025. This project will require traffic disruptions along River Street from about South Street to Center Street, near Downtown Willoughby. Updates for all construction projects will be posted on our website.

Looking ahead, we continue planning for our Euclid Avenue Pool site. The design team has presented multiple options and budget estimates for reimagining that property. We will ask our residents to offer their opinions on this project through a survey that will be added to our website. Your input will be critical in identifying the appropriate solution for this important park.

As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to host a variety of family-friendly events:

• Holiday Lighting Ceremony: Thursday, December 5, at 7:00 PM. Enjoy performances from local students, musicians, and community groups before our special guest “Lights Up” the city!
• Holiday Stroll: Shop and dine in our historic downtown during the Holiday Stroll on Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7.
• The Miracle on Erie Street 5K: Sponsored by Erie Street Miracles, this festive run will occur on Saturday, December 7.
• Santa Visits: Santa will greet children at his house in Wes Point Park throughout the season. On December 14, he’ll visit neighborhoods, courtesy of the Willoughby Fire Department. Routes will be posted on our website.

We want to thank those who work tirelessly to make the holidays in Willoughby special. These include our Parks and Recreation, Service, Fire, and Police Departments and our local organizations.  We would also like to thank our directors and their teams for their efforts.

Please visit our website and Facebook page for more details on these events.

We wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season!