EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series looking at what Lake County communities, agencies and school districts experienced in 2024 and what is facing them in 2025. Willoughby Mayor Robert Fiala said that 2024 proved to be an exciting year for the city with groundbreaking ceremonies for three, long-awaited projects. The first was the groundbreaking ceremony for the Union High School adaptive reuse project, which will consist of the historic building being converted into market-rate apartments and adjacent for-sale townhomes. Willoughby officials and developers of the Willoughby Union High School restoration project recently gathered in Wes Point Park to host a ceremonial construction kick off. (Marah Morrison — The News-Herald) Fiala said this project is an essential book end to the city’s historic downtown and was made possible by grants from the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program and the Oho Brownfield Remediation program through the Ohio Department of Development. Additionally, Lake County commissioners assisted with Lake County ARPA funds. The renovation project is expected to be completed near the end of 2025. A second groundbreaking was held for phase one of the city’s Osborne Park shoreline protection project, which will include repairs to the city’s damaged, 1,400-foot shoreline and the creation of small sand and cobble beaches. The project will also feature the restoration of the slope to its natural habitat. It was funded primarily by local ARPA funds, grants received from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and a one-time transformational project grant sponsored by State Sen. Jerry Cirino and supported by Rep. Dan Troy. Willoughby recently hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Osborne Park Shoreline Protection project. (Marah Morrison — The News-Herald) The contract for this project is being awarded to Mark Haynes Construction, and work is expected to be begin as soon as permits are released, Fiala said. A final groundbreaking occurred for the city’s Chagrin River floodplain restoration and trail connection project, and a design-build team was selected to complete the final design documents and begin construction. The Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Willoughby Mayor Robert Fiala are currently working with other local, and regional partners to develop the Chagrin River Corridor and Lakefront Trail Connection. (Shana Boyd) The contract was awarded to a team that includes Biohabits the SmithGroup. Work includes restoring more than 100 acres of property along the Chagrin River, formerly owned by the Andrews Osborne Academy, a walking trail and access to this environmentally protected property. A federal NOAA grant provided funding for the acquisition of this site, and other funding sources included local ARPA funds, Lake County ARPA funds, Ohio Department of Natural Resources grants and a significant grant from Congressman Dave Joyce, Fiala said. Some work will commence in 2025, including the decommissioning of the former nursery and removal of invasive species as the permit documents are prepared for the remaining work. Related Articles Local News | Major Waste Disposal to provide services in Willowick Local News | Celebrate winter at 2025 Mentor Chill Out Local News | Concord Township approves order for new salt dome, expected soon Local News | Burroughs Nature Club to hear from geologist about six vital raw materials Local News | Lakeland Community College president details year, school’s transition going forward “Our three groundbreakings represent important and transformational projects that will provide new housing close to our historic downtown and recreational amenities along our city’s two most important assets: the Chagrin River and Lake Erie,” Fiala said. Willoughby is also looking forward to the receipt of bids for its new police station shortly after the first of the year, Fiala said. The project has been in the design stage during 2024 and construction is slated to begin in the early spring of 2025. “This project will offer the men and women of the Willoughby Police Department the facilities they need to accomplish their important mission,” Fiala said. “The building will feature improved training facilities, public meeting space and a state-of-the-art dispatch center.” In 2024, the city was successful with installing sidewalks along Route 91 from Route 84 to Euclid Avenue with the assistance of Laketran and local ARPA funds. “This long-awaited project provides access along this much travelled corridor and was promoted by Council President Robert Carr for many years,” Fiala said. “The city was also successful in securing additional funding from Laketran for additional sidewalks near the intersection of Route 84 and Route 91.” The city’s Parks and Recreation Department continues to explore opportunities for the city’s recently closed Euclid Avenue Pool. Over the summer, a committee consisting of residents, members of council and the administration met regularly with noted pool designers Brandstetter Carroll to develop options for reimagining this site, Fiala said. “The design team presented sketches and cost estimates for their proposals, which were reviewed at a council meeting,” he said. “With the assistance of the design team, we are now developing a survey that will be posted on our website to help us to better understand our residents’ thoughts on this important site.” Riverside Commons, a more than 100-acre parcel along Route 2 and Lost Nation Road is moving forward, and the developer is refining plans for its development, Fiala said. “This site is one of the last large tracts of property along the Route 2 corridor between Cleveland and Erie, Pennsylvania, and will present a unique opportunity to bring new jobs to our city,” he said. “The project, delayed for over 20 years due to environmental concerns, is expected to provide services to our residents north of Route 2 and new industry to Willoughby.” The city’s unique collaboration with Laketran, Eastlake and Willowick continues with each city receiving $500,000 to being their streetscape enhancement projects along Vine Street. Work will include extending Willoughby’s downtown streetscaping west toward Eastlake and will include the installation of brick pavers and historic light fixtures. “Our hope is to extend our downtown and provide amenities for the landlords and tenants along this corridor,” Fiala said. The city also continued traditional summer events, which included the Rib Burn Off, Downtown Willoughby Cruise-In, Willoughby ArtsFest and Last Stop Willoughby, as well as the city’s Thursday evening gazebo concerts and expanded Osborne Park sunset concerts. “These events are designed to support our historic downtown and our lakefront district to further enhance Willoughby’s reputation as an excellent, family-friendly location to live, work and recreate,” Fiala said. The city’s directors and chiefs have done an exceptional job in 2024 with pushing initiatives forward, ensuring the continued success of the city, Fiala said. “Their work ethic is evident on a daily basis and our residents should be proud of everything they have accomplished,” he said.