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.
Cleveland parks get upgrades on a routine schedule. Normal park maintenance is managed by the Division of Park Maintenance in the Parks & Recreation Department.
Here is a general schedule of park maintenance:
- April to November: City focuses on grass cutting, trash removal, sports fields, and special event preparation.
- December to March: City focuses on hard-surface leaf removal, snow and ice removal.
- Fall and spring: City tree planting seasons
Is there a broken amenity (i.e. broken bench, swing, sidewalk) in your park? These repairs are not consistently addressed by the Division of Park Maintenance. Check out our article on how to contact the city and report the problem.
What is the schedule for large park improvements?
Large park improvements are managed by the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects (MOCAP).
The City of Cleveland typically plans and funds large projects on a three-year cycle. This cycle ensures the city has enough funding and time to complete the project. Check recently completed, on-going, and planned large park improvements here.
Suggested Reading
The recently completed 15-year Parks & Recreation Plan outlines a new equity-based model for deciding which parks and recreation centers will receive large improvements. See page 224.
This schedule does not always include projects funded and completed by a city partner, and sometimes Cleveland City Council members can fund projects outside of this cycle.
Where can I quickly find information on planned or completed park improvements?
The Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects (MOCAP) keeps a list of all recently completed, on-going, and planned large park improvements. You can check out that list out here.
If you have more questions, you can reach out to: 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.