Overview:
This guide is co-published through a partnership with the Cleveland Parks & Greenspace Coalition and Trust for Public Land (TPL). The coalition advocates for an equitable parks and recreation system and supports resident-led stewardship and activation of city parks. TPL works to connect all Ohioans to the outdoors through land conservation, parks, trails, and schoolyards. This article is written by Tait Ferguson, coordinator for the coalition. This guide is specifically for City of Cleveland parks, not Cleveland Metroparks.
Is there a broken swing, a cracked concrete path or a ripped tennis court net at your local Cleveland park? These are considered maintenance issues, not park improvements that require new construction. Here’s what you can do to get a maintenance issue fixed at a city park in Cleveland.
Categories of improvement needs for city parks
There are two city offices that manage improvements in city parks:
- Projects addressed by the Division of Park Maintenance in the Parks & Recreation Department.
- Projects addressed by the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects (MOCAP).
When do I contact the Division of Park Maintenance?
The City of Cleveland’s Division of Park Maintenance manages small maintenance issues in city parks (for example: cracked sidewalk, broken bench, ripped net).
To address a maintenance issue in your park, use the new 311 system to report the broken amenity. If you haven’t before, you will need to create an account for 311. Once logged-in, find your specific request (i.e. “Broken Bench”) under the Services tab. You can track requests in the 311 portal as well. You can also call 311 at 216-664-2000.
If your problem is not addressed by the Division of Park Maintenance, you should contact your City Council Member. Find your City Council Member and their contact information.
Cleveland Public Library (CPL) partners with 311, if you need help navigating the process, stop into any CPL location for assistance. Find CPL locations here.
When do I contact the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects (MOCAP)?
The Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects manages large park improvements, such as the construction of a new playground or the addition of a new park feature. Additionally, the Division of Park Maintenance may elevate issues they do not have the capacity to address to MOCAP.
MOCAP funds projects through a three year general bonds cycle, so projects are often planned far in advance to ensure adequate funding is available.
Take a look at MOCAP’s current projects. If you would like to see a large improvement to your local park, begin by contacting your City Council Member and your local Community Development Corporation — they can help elevate projects to MOCAP’s attention.
If you have more questions, you can reach out to: mocap@clevelandohio.gov. If you need additional assistance getting in contact with MOCAP, email: parkscoalitioncle@gmail.com.
Do you have a question about parks and greenspace in your community? Connect with the Parks and Greenspace Coalition and submit your question here. You can learn more about the Trust for Public Land’s work in Ohio here.