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Session shows off Boardman Township's attributes
BOARDMAN
A new high-school football stadium, 227 acres of green space in the park and upgrades to Southern Park Mall were just a few of the township highlights mentioned at “Good Evening Boardman,” hosted by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
Thursday night’s event at Magic Tree Pub & Eatery on South Avenue provided updates on what township Trustee Larry Moliterno described as the community’s pillars: township government, schools and the park.
The keynote speaker was Lori Reda, who earlier this year joined Southern Park Mall as director of marketing and business development. She offered some insights into what is happening at the mall.
“We know how important curb appeal is,” she said, noting several ongoing renovation projects. The mall currently is replacing its roof and recently repaved some of its parking lots. Bath & Body Works at the mall is undergoing a remodeling and expansion project now, which is set to be complete next month. Victoria’s Secret recently moved to an upgraded space as well.
“Another thing we are focusing on is our leasing,” she said, highlighting the recent addition of H&M to the Sears concourse.
“Moving forward in 2016, we have a lot of new leasing we’re working on, as well as” capital-improvement projects, she said.
Moliterno spotlighted ongoing township initiatives such as a new senior check-in program that will begin at the start of 2016, active demolition of vacant, blighted structures and increased regional collaboration.
The return of a juvenile-diversion program at the police department, ongoing efforts to update the township’s land-use map and an upgraded rating for the fire department that affects insurance rates for property owners were other highlights he mentioned.
“At the same time we were doing all of that, we took a $3 million cut from the state,” he said.
Township officials are focused on the future, he said, and are working on a strategic plan that will take the township to 2020, the main focus of which will be to encourage redevelopment.
Township officials want to continue progress that’s been seen in recent years, such as with Tiffany Square plaza on U.S. Route 224, which now is full of businesses, and the planned expansion of downtown businesses – such as Suzie’s Dogs & Drafts – into the township.
Another priority Moliterno noted is investment in infrastructure, namely road resurfacing.
Township officials also have identified remodeling or replacement of the main fire station on U.S. Route 224 as a priority.
Superintendent Frank Lazzeri brought attention to some of the school district’s recent successes, such as recognition from the College Board for the high school’s Advanced Placement course program, continued excellence in the arts and what he described as the “crowning jewel of this year”– the new athletics stadium on the high school’s Glenwood Avenue campus.
“We are looking to be even better in the future,” he said.
Boardman Park Commissioner Joyce Mistovich called attention to the park’s ability to operate efficiently, citing a national survey that found that Boardman Park accommodates more visitors, with fewer personnel, than many other parks throughout the country.
The park, she said, manages to run on a tight budget even while seeing substantial increases in visitors. Last year, the park had 470,500 visitors, up 4 percent over the previous year.