By SHARON M. LETSON
Executive Director, Youngstown CityScape
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown CityScape last year began renovating a greenhouse that it acquired, moved into a new office, and decorated the downtown area for the holidays.
With street reconstruction projects nearing completion, CityScape is looking forward to making more improvements downtown.
We started 2023 by moving into new offices on East Federal Street.
Then renovation began at CityScape at Briel’s, our new greenhouse on Belle Vista Avenue in Youngstown.
The work will make the greenhouse weather-tight and fully functional as a growing and educational space. We have repaired framing and replaced old glass with durable, energy-efficient, shatter-resistant polycarbonate. New front windows and a façade brightened the neighborhood.
We’re starting work on our Neighborhood Gardening Resource Center, which will provide technical assistance and materials to community gardeners and neighborhood groups, event space, and room for educational programs.
Also in 2023, we held our seasonal pop-up shops, selling mums and holiday greenery.
In December, downtown came alive with our Sparkle Youngstown! lighting display on Federal and Phelps streets, which featured lampposts festooned with lighted garland for the holidays.
Looking ahead, this summer will bring a more beautiful downtown – and a bigger workload for our Sidewalk Squad – funded by federal grants. We will again host planting day and maintain that work throughout the year.
At Wick Park, we’ll put the finishing touches on the Karr Gardens this spring and continue upgrades to the corner garden. CityScape has identified the right surface application and contractor to upgrade the Wick Park trail, which will be done by year’s end.
As part of a long-term project, we will help “green” Youngstown as a partner in the five-year, $5 million Tree Corps program through the U.S. Forestry Service.
CityScape continues to reimagine Belmont Avenue and similar projects that improve gateway corridors, public spaces and downtown.
We were honored and energized by the support shown the organization during the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley’s Giving Tuesday campaign. Including the CFMV’s generous incentive/match, CityScape received over $40,000 from nearly 350 individual donors. That’s what we call grassroots support!
For over 26 years, CityScape has served as downtown Youngstown’s community development corporation, creating projects that reimagine our district, our city and our region. We have 15 full- and part-time employees.
Pictured at top: Volunteers from Hollywood Gaming joined CityScape’s planting event June 3. They are Mary Monoski, Abbey Cece, Connor Riley, Sammie Keeney and Nawai Moatassem.