Centerville lists its ‘Top 10’ highlights of 2021
The City of Centerville is highlighting its 10 greatest accomplishments in 2021. This work is in line with the city’s five-year Strategic Plan that outlines major goals of economic development, planning, finance, housing and infrastructure, core services and technology.
1. Uptown gains momentum
City Council and staff work over the last year in Uptown is paying dividends. Work continues in the six primary goal areas of the Uptown Action Plan: walkability and traffic reduction, parking, events, business development, branding and greenspace. Earlier this year, the state of Ohio approved an entertainment district for Uptown. Now, the city is seeing new economic investment from businesses like Beckel’s Humidor & Aficionado and The Brunch Pub, which is planned for the former Las Piramides. The Board of Architectural Review has approved plans for Manna, a new restaurant concept from the co-owner of Salar in downtown Dayton. The adaptive redevelopment project combines the two existing structures at 57 and 63 West Franklin Street into a common building that can accommodate a 110-seat restaurant.
2. Stubbs Park improved
Stubbs Park spans 60 acres along West Spring Valley Road and provides numerous amenities to the public, including playground equipment, walking trails, a disc golf course and an inline skating rink. The State of Ohio awarded the city $800,000 in capital funding for Phase 1 upgrades planned for Leonard E. Stubbs Memorial Park. The funds will be used to enhance the amphitheater and surrounding event space. Improvements may include renovations to the existing band shell and the creation of structured terrace seating with ADA areas to allow greater accessibility for visitors of all abilities. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources just awarded $150,000 in a NatureWorks grant for playground replacement.
3. Sustainability successes
The group Sustainable Centerville
kicked off 2021 with the region’s first Styrofoam recycling event. Along with the Centerville-Washington Park District, the group won a first-place Ohio Parks and Recreation Association 2021 Award of Excellence for the event. Sustainable Centerville also partnered with local grocers to promote plastic bag recycling. The city hosted a plastic recycling drive with the goal of collecting 500 pounds in 6 months. Residents met that goal in 3 weeks. A summer-long Recycle Right campaign taught families about which items are accepted for recycling and successfully reduced the city’s recycling contamination
rate from 24% to 10%.
4. Police publish traffic investigations
The Centerville Police Department regularly investigates speeding concerns. Officers place a traffic monitoring device in the area under investigation for at least a week. The results from the device are then shared with road patrols, who target the times and days identified for selective traffic enforcement. In 2021, officers have routinely shared the results of those investigations on the city’s website with the people who live on and travel those roads. To look over which areas
have been checked, visit centervilleohio.gov/government/police/ traffic-concern-investigations.
5. Summer Concert Series draws crowds
With more than 31,000 guests in attendance at the 13 free Sunday night concerts, 2021 was the biggest year yet for Centerville’s Summer Event Series. Bands like The Fries, Hotel California and Simply Queen brought in nearly 5,000 guests each. Stay tuned to see which bands are booked in 2022 while we prepare for the improvements to Stubbs Park.
6. Information technology improved
Centerville has come a long way in a short time regarding information technology. Today, guests to the city’s website can request permits online instead of having to make a trip to the Municipal Building. Waste customers are able to pay their bills online. For the first time in 2021, taxpayers could book appointments in advance online instead of waiting in line for local income tax help. These improvements will continue as the city grows its IT infrastructure and endeavors to enhance customer service.
7. Yankee Trace attracts crowds
The Golf Club at Yankee Trace came off a record year in 2020 of nearly 70,000 rounds of golf as the community celebrated 25 years at 10000 Yankee Street. Then, the clubhouse was transformed in 2021. Now, City Council and staff are planning an expansion of the patio, and the golf club again broke sales records over the summer.
8. Benham’s Grove master planning
Benham’s Grove sits on Main Street in the heart of Centerville on land originally owned by one of the city’s founding fathers. The city purchased the land in the early 1990s and has proudly hosted some of the most special events of residents’ and visitors’ lives. Now, work is underway to develop a business plan, including strategic renovations and upgrades, to secure Benham’s Grove as a community gathering space for decades to come.
9. First mural installed in Uptown
The first piece of the Centerpieces Mural Program greets visitors on the north wall of Square One Salon and Spa. The geometric elk, which was created and painted by Jennifer Sayger of Murage Studios, was selected from approximately 20 submissions by a committee with representatives from City Council, the Centerville Arts Commission, the Board of Architectural Review and the building owner. The city hopes to install as many as nine more Centerpieces murals throughout Uptown over the next several years.
10. Centerville named one of Ohio’s best
Ohio Magazine named Centerville one of its Best Hometowns 2021–2022! Each year, Ohio Magazine recognizes places that make our state a great place to live. The magazine selected Centerville for its beautiful neighborhoods and parks, strong schools and collaborations that set a solid foundation for the future. According to the article, “This Montgomery County city boasts a wealth of recreation, family-friendly events, welcoming businesses and a strong sense of community support.”