Mayor's Report

As the seasons change, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to live in such a vibrant and connected community. I’d like to share a few updates and highlights with you this month.

Leaf Collection
Our Service Department plans to begin curbside leaf collection mid-month. Please place leaves on the tree lawn and out of the street to help keep roads safe and storm sewers clear. Collection will continue through the first week of December, weather permitting. We’re hopeful we don’t have another early snow event that disrupts the schedule like last year!

Events
Thank you for another successful summer concert season! Please take a minute to complete a short survey on our website and Facebook page. We welcome your feedback as we plan for next year.

This month, there are several family-friendly activities planned, starting on October 5th with the annual Trunk or Treat event at Captains Stadium in Eastlake, hosted by Lake County First Responders. Please check our Facebook page and website for additional events scheduled this month.

Looking Ahead
In addition to day-to-day services, several projects are moving forward that will shape Willoughby’s future:

• Osborne Park Shoreline Project: Work has begun on the long-awaited erosion control at Osborne Park. This project is funded through grants, ensuring no burden to taxpayers while protecting a valued asset. This spring, we took advantage of a scheduling gap and had rock delivered to the park, allowing construction to begin as soon as the EPA permit is finalized. We are still awaiting that permit and are eager to move to the next step.
• Chagrin River Trail: Also funded with grant monies, this project, along with other properties upstream along the Chagrin River, will preserve more than 200 acres and expand opportunities for recreation, conservation, and connectivity. The decommissioning of the former nursery and the removal of invasive species are complete, and the next phase will focus on the creation of high-water flow channels to help mitigate stream bank erosion, a trail network, reforesting this site, and the installation of a bridge from Todd Field to our new property. We are also excited to share that we were recently awarded an additional $1.2 million grant from NOAA for this project.
• New Police Station: Construction of our state-of-the-art police station is well underway. This long-needed investment will provide our officers with the tools and facilities necessary to continue delivering the highest level of public safety to our residents. The project is on schedule to open in spring 2026.

Speaking of safety, we recently asked the WPD for the latest crime data, and the news is encouraging. Over the past decade (2015–2024), nonviolent crimes have dropped an impressive 49%, and violent crime remains near its lowest level in 10 years. These figures come from the FBI’s national crime database, reported through the Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS).

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of what makes Willoughby such a great place to live, work and visit.