DEVELOPMENT Austintown 20/20 turns focus to the next phases

Information about getting involved is available at www.austintown2020.org.
AUSTINTOWN -- Four projects down, four more to go.
At an update meeting Thursday, members of the Austintown 20/20 group outlined the next part of the agenda to improve the township.
The first four projects -- Celebration Grove, a township cleanup program, a neighborhood watch and posting of Falcon Country signs along major roads -- are ongoing.
Next up are the Meridian Road and state Route 46 corridors, Channel 19 and an online directory.
Fred Owens, foundation president, said the Route 46 corridor needs to be a joint effort with Canfield Township.
"In the absence of community planning is it going to become the elephant in everyone's living room?" he asked.
The committee to address the Meridian Corridor project is comprised of Austintown and Youngstown officials.
Channel 19 is the public access channel that carries township and school programming. That committee will determine if there are ways to enhance the programming.
Michael Kurish, who chairs the committee handling the online directory, said the idea started when 20/20 steering committee members were trying to determine how to contact different groups and organizations.
There isn't one place that identifies groups, their contact person and other information, he said.
"We're looking for an organization to step forward and take that on," said Kurish, who is also township clerk. He suggested school groups.
Information about how to get involved in the 20/20 effort is available at www.austintown2020.org or by calling (330) 792-5647.
Tranquil spot
Celebration Grove of Austintown, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Austintown, will include 100 trees that can be purchased and dedicated to a loved one.
The cost is $185 per tree.
"Austintown Park is a wonderful place, it just didn't have any place that is quiet," said Gary Reel of the Rotary.
The grove will include 60 flowering pear trees and 20 each of red maple and river birch. The red maples have all been sold. A marker placed at the tree will bear a message or name.
Planting begins next month with the flowering pears and river birches. The red maples will be planted in the fall.
The Austintown Growth Foundation initiated the Austintown 20/20 process. The plan was developed using community input and the Ball State University community based projects program.