By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green residents and BGSU students are joining forces to “Rock the Block” on April 6.
The one-day cleanup event is being organized by BG Save Our Neighborhoods Group, to help homeowners with yard work, exterior maintenance and minor repairs – at no cost to the participating homeowners.
Rose Drain, one of the founders of the SONG neighborhood group, told Bowling Green City Council on Tuesday evening that letters about the “Rock the Block” had been sent to about 400 homeowners, and 15 signed up for the first time event.
“We’re excited and trepidatious,” Drain said.
Of the 15 homeowners who signed up, there are families with small children, and there are people in their 90s, she said.
The April 6 event, which has a rain date of April 13, is possible by the community coming together, Drain said.
“We hope to see you involved in some way,” Drain said to City Council members.
Three BGSU students, who are part of a leadership and service class, spoke to City Council about their efforts to partner with SONG members on the work day.
Audrey Seitz said the leadership class talks a lot about different leadership theories. The partnership with SONG is servant leadership.
“Overall, our goal is to implement the leadership theories discussed in our class with our community partner BG SONG to support the neighborhoods and residents in Bowling Green,” Seitz said.
Tyler Hallman spoke of how the community can help “Rock the Block,” by volunteering to “restore, revitalize and reinvent” properties that need exterior assistance. There will be a variety of tasks, from trimming the landscape, to helping replace old fences.
The group is looking for donations, tools to borrow for the day, and volunteers.
Anyone interested may email the organization at BOWLINGGREENSONG@GMAIL.COM
Evan Thornton spoke of the neighborhood organization’s goal of bettering the community, and the BGSU students’ efforts to help them do that.
Mayor Mike Aspacher congratulated the collaboration of BG SONG and the BGSU leadership students on “Rock the Block.” He offered to help with the project.
City Council also heard Tuesday from other community organizations trying to make a difference:
- Bob Kreienkamp and Brian Sell gave updates on the efforts to put outdoor pickleball courts at the BG Community Center. The group has raised nearly $300,000, getting closer to the goal of $350,000 to $400,000 for eight courts. Kreienkamp said he hopes to have courts open in the fall. And Sell, a retired pharmacist, talked about the benefits of pickleball. “This has helped more than any medication” for many participants, he said.
- Council member Jeff Dennis reported on efforts by dog park advocates to enter a lease agreement with the city for a site to be used as a dog park. A public meeting will be scheduled about the location and the lease agreement, Dennis said.
- Charlotte Reith, a grassroots climate policy volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, thanked council for passing a resolution asking state and federal officials to act to reduce the impact of climate change. Reith said that as she hears daily of extreme weather and political gridlock, she is thankful that her local government listens.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, City Council authorized the municipal administrator to apply for Safe Routes to School Project funds through the Ohio Department of Transportation to construct the Crim Elementary to Carter Park shared use path.
The application will be for the maximum annual funding of $500,000 for a shared use path connecting the school and park.
The city will also apply for funding for pedestrian hybrid beacons at Wooster and Enterprise streets, and Poe Road at the high school/middle school.
