
Announcements
The Bowling Green Community is invited to participate in Walk & Roll to School Day, which will be held on Wednesday, October 4 with all Bowling Green public and nonpublic/parochial schools coordinating activities that encourage their students to participate.
Walk & Roll to School Day is a part of the City’s Safe Routes to School Travel Plan currently being developed with guidance from a 15 member committee comprised of city and school officials. The goal of Ohio's Safe Routes to School Program is to assist communities in developing and implementing projects and programs that encourage and enable children in grades K-12, including those with disabilities, to walk or bike to school safely.
The plan will take approximately three months to complete, and should be ready for public review and comment in late November. Local planning consultant Reveille and Mannik Smith Group are assisting the city in the Plan’s development.
As a critical educational component of school travel planning process, Walk & Roll to School Day is an annual event that involves communities from across the country (and globe!) walking and rolling to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Today, thousands of schools across America participate every October.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and adolescents get one hour or more of physical activity each day. Research suggests that physically active kids are more likely to become healthy, physically active adults, underscoring the importance of developing the habit of regular physical activity early.
According to Mayor Mike Aspacher, “The whole community benefits from efforts to enable and encourage more children to walk, bike or roll to school safely. Bowling Green is committed to taking the long-term steps necessary to activating the community through multi-model/pedestrian connectivity solutions.”
The City of Bowling Green, the Center for Regional Development (CRD), and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) are excited to announce the completion of downtown Bowling Green’s first Pedestrian Experience Plan (PEP). The Pedestrian Experience Plan is a strategy that was formulated through Downtown Forward. Downtown Forward is a collaborative initiative to enhance placemaking in downtown Bowling Green. The Downtown Forward partnership was formed after the City of Bowling Green was selected to participate in the Reimagining Rural Regions (R3) program with CRD.
Over the last year, CRD staff, graduate assistants, and undergraduate placemaking and community engagement (PaCE) fellows, with guidance from the Downtown Forward Steering Committee, went through an extensive public engagement process. Through two public information sessions last fall, followed by focus groups and a community wide survey, CRD was able to garner feedback from stakeholders in the community. The iterative process brought the Steering Committee to the decision to create a Pedestrian Experience Plan.
The goal of the Pedestrian Experience Plan is to provide Bowling Green with information and project ideas that can be implemented to enhance the walking experience in the downtown. Members of the CRD presented the PEP to Bowling Green City Council members and members of the public on September 18.
The plan outlines in more detail the community engagement process used in the planning process, demographic data about Bowling Green, and information and case studies for each area of focus. The areas of focus are:
- Alley Beautification
- Public Art
- Signage/ Wayfinding
The information for the case studies was collected by the PaCE fellows, who conducted peer reviews of projects in other communities, as well as interviews of those involved in the projects to collect firsthand knowledge on how to implement projects that can be replicated in Bowling Green. In addition to the case studies, the PEP includes an “alley inventory” of downtown Bowling Green which is a map and list that identifies the alleys in BG, the status of each alley, and whether it is publicly or privately owned.
The R3 program is funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the USDA Rural Development Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC).
To help improve the conditions of City streets, Bowling Green is partnering with StreetScan, a company that has assessed streets in over 280 communities in North America. Beginning September 20th, residents may notice a marked, “StreetScan”, vehicle with equipment mounted to its roof, driving throughout the City.
StreetScan employs vehicle-mounted sensing technology to assess road conditions in normal traffic flow. The system utilizes its technology to determine the health of each street and to identify road defects including potholes, bumps, and cracking. This data helps the municipality to identify and prioritize repair needs.
Questions about this work should be directed to the Public Works Department by calling 419-354-6227.
The Inner Peace Homes, Inc. Fore the Kids Golf Scramble is looking for sponsors. If interested, please review the form below and either scan the QR Code to secure your sponsorship online or return the form to Inner Peace Homes at 136 1/2 S. Main St. All proceeds for the event go directly towards benefiting their foster families and children.
Efficiency Smart is hosting a Focus on Community Photo Contest. This contest is a fun opportunity for residents to celebrate and highlight their community. Residents who submit a photo of Bowling Green will be entered to win up to $100, an energy efficiency kit, and to have a photo feature on the Efficiency Smart website. Submissions will be open through September 25. Efficiency Smart will select finalists from submissions received throughout participating communities, and a vote will take place in October to determine the winners.
Efficiency Smart is giving you a chance to win up to $100 and an energy efficiency kit for sharing a photo of Bowling Green. Visit https://woobox.com/n6xhwi to learn more or to enter!
The City of Bowling Green is proud to announce that its Historic Preservation Commission has been awarded a Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant. This grant will enable the commission to embark on an exciting project that will enhance the city's downtown area with historical interpretive signage. The project is made possible in part by a Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, and administered by the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection.
The CLG Grant, a testament to the city's commitment to preserving its rich heritage, will facilitate the development and installation of informative and visually appealing signage throughout Bowling Green's downtown. The historical interpretive signage project aims to educate residents and visitors alike about the city's past, allowing them to engage with its unique history in a meaningful and interactive way.
Through this initiative, Bowling Green's Historic Preservation Commission seeks to bring additional excitement into the downtown area by celebrating its architectural, cultural, and historical significance. These carefully crafted signs will showcase important landmarks, pivotal events, and influential individuals who have shaped the city's identity over the years.
By providing historical context and engaging narratives, the interpretive signage will foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the city's heritage. This project will not only promote a sense of civic pride among residents but also attract tourists who are eager to explore Bowling Green's remarkable past.
The grant funds will be utilized to design, produce, and install the historical interpretive signs in strategic locations throughout the downtown. Historians, designers, and the HPC will collaborate closely to ensure that the signage accurately reflects the city's historical significance.
The Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission will work diligently to implement the downtown historical interpretive signage project over the next year. Through this endeavor, the city hopes to foster a stronger connection between its vibrant present and illustrious past.
The City of Bowling Green is one of 90 projects receiving state grants to address critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Ohio communities. In total, 64 counties will receive $135 million.
The funding comes from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Ohio BUILDS (Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development Success) water infrastructure grant program, administered through the Ohio Department of Development.
The City of Bowling Green will receive a $1,182,741 grant to make upgrades to the water treatment plant’s aging low service pump station to improve water quality to the service area. Project activities include replacing stationary bar screens and slide gates at the inflow channels, two traveling screens, four raw water vertical turbine pumps, the motor control center, and heating and ventilation equipment. New drives and controls will also be provided to allow remote operation and monitoring. The project will also include general rehab to the pump station structure, including painting, roof replacement, concrete repair, and more. The project will benefit 46,578 people.
“From the first dollar awarded through this program to now, we’ve made hundreds of transformative investments in the future of our communities,” said Governor DeWine. “Having a strong water infrastructure not only safeguards the health and well-being of our residents, but it makes our neighborhoods more resilient and better prepares local leaders for sustainable economic growth.”
Today’s announcement is the fifth round awarded through the program, which opened in July 2021. In total, nearly $500 million has been awarded to 343 critical infrastructure projects through the Ohio BUILDS water infrastructure grant program.
“This additional round of funding will help communities from one corner of the state to the next replace aging, overwhelmed infrastructure, ensuring that Ohioans have access to clean drinking water,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “These projects will not only greatly improve the quality of life for residents in these areas, but they also boost economic growth related to business expansion and housing development.”
In total, the program received more than 1,200 grant applications requesting nearly $1.4 billion in funding.
“Businesses that choose to set up shop in Ohio do so, in large part, because of the generational investments we’ve made in local infrastructure,” said Director Mihalik. “Through the vision of Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted, and the support of our state legislature, we’re creating more opportunities for communities large and small to be Ohio’s next great economic success story.”
Funds awarded today will help reduce or eliminate the local financial burden associated with critical infrastructure needs such as the construction of new water systems, the replacement of aging water lines, and the installation of new water mains. Grants will also fund projects to prevent sewer system backups and replace failing household sewage treatment systems with new sewers.
“The City of Bowling Green is thankful to the Ohio Department of Development for these grant dollars,” said Mayor Mike Aspacher. “The funds will benefit our community for years to come and strengthen our ability to provide high quality drinking water to our citizens and customers,” he said.
The Ohio BUILDS water infrastructure grants are a continuation of Governor DeWine's H2Ohio initiative, which launched in 2019 to focus on ensuring plentiful, clean, and safe water for communities across the state.
Ohio BUILDS focuses not only on strengthening Ohio's communities through water infrastructure upgrades, but also supports other necessary investments in targeted solutions that impact quality of life such as broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, the demolition of blighted buildings, and more.
Additional information on the Ohio BUILDS water infrastructure grant program can be found on the program webpage.
The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.
Events
The Bowling Green Fire Division is excited to announce the return of their annual Open House on September 30, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Pearl Street Fire Station. This is a family-friendly event to allow residents to explore the Fire Station, meet Firefighters and learn more about how to keep their families safe at home and away.
Activities Include:
- Fire Extinguisher Demonstration at 10:00 AM
- Live Fire Demonstration at 11:00 AM
- Auto Extrication Demo at 11:30 AM
- Pancake & Sausage Breakfast (For a Donation)
- Station Tours
- Opportunity to Operate a Fire Hose
- Explore Fire Trucks
- Watch the Jaws of Life at Work
- Learn Fire Safety Tips
The Pearl Street Fire Station is located at 1060 Pearl Street, Bowling Green, OH 43402. This event is free to attend, and no registration is required
The new format for the League of Women Voters (LWV) Forum is being called Face2Face: Meet the Candidates. The event will take place October 8 at the Veterans Building in City Park, with doors opening at 6:30 for informal conversation with the candidates and the program starting at 7 p.m. Instead of having the candidates in front and the audience in rows of chairs, LWV will use round tables. Audience members will sit at the tables, and each table will have a LWV facilitator and a candidate. Audience members at each table will have roughly 10 minutes to ask questions of the candidate at their table. At a signal from the moderator, candidates will move to the next table in rotation and the 10 minute question period will be repeated. By the end of the evening each candidate will have sat at every table, and each audience member will have met every candidate face to face, or Face2Face.
At the beginning of the program, each candidate will have one minute to introduce themselves before going to their first table.
LWV hopes this format will be appealing to both candidates and audience, and it will get around the situations in the past where if one candidate for an office does not participate, the other one cannot either. LWV feels the voters lose out when they can’t hear from both candidates for an office. Another feature of this format is that no one will be the seventh person to answer a particular question. Audience members who have a particular question should have a better chance of asking that question.
Being invited are candidates running opposed for the following offices:
- Bowling Green Mayor
- Bowling Green City Council at Large
- Bowling Green City Council 1 st Ward
- Bowling Green Board of Education
Co-sponsors are American Association of University Women Bowing Green Branch, Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, and BGSU Retirees Association.
Questions should be directed to Ellen Dalton, edalton@bgsu.edu or 419 575-9159.
Register your team online at innerpeacehomes.org/golf.
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/purses-for-a-purpose-a-ghouls-night-out-tickets-668858382427
Investor Newsletters
- BBB
- City of Bowling Green
- Falcons Sports Properties News From The Nest
- Habitat for Humanity of Wood County
- Montessori School of Bowling Green Friday Features
- NAMI Wood County
- Snyder Financial Weekly Market Commentary
- The Connection Center BG
- Visit BG Ohio - What To Do In October
- Wood Soil & Water Conservation District
City Updates
- Manville Ave. Closure
Manville Ave., between Clough St. and Scott Hamilton, will be closed to through traffic in both directions September 26 – October 6 due to the installation of new gas services. This schedule is subject to weather and progress of work. Manville Ave. will be open on evenings and weekends while this project progresses. - Bowling Green Utilities Outage Reporting
While the City works every day to minimize utility interruptions, inevitably outages do occur. To improve the way Bowling Green customer’s report an electric, water, or sewer outage, the city has partnered with Cooperative Response Center, Inc (CRC).
CRC will begin to take Bowling Green customer outage calls on September 19 at noon for outages related to electric, water, or sewer. Bowling Green customers will call one number (888-807-2583) to report an electric, water, or sewer outage 24 hours a day.
CRC is a nationwide 24/7 call center that assists over 400 public power utilities, like Bowling Green. With four call centers in the United States, and years of experience, CRC is capable of handling large call volumes in an efficient manner as well as dispatching City utility crews to restore service to the customer.
Previously, customers would call a different number based on the type of outage or the time of day. Having one number for customers to call 24 hours a day will simplify the outage reporting process. Also, utilizing CRC will keep other City staff focused on their primary responsibilities for Bowling Green residents. Again, customers should call (888-807-2583) for any utility outages related to electric, water, or sewer beginning September 19 at noon.
Customers can improve the outage response time by keeping their contact information up to date with the Utilities Business Office. If a customer calls CRC from a phone number that is associated with the utility account, CRC will automatically know the account information, such as service address where the outage is likely occurring. This capability can shorten the response time for CRC as well as the utility crew that responds to the outage. - W. Wooster/Haskins Rd. Project Update (9/8)
The installation of the water and sewer mains along West Wooster St. and Haskins Rd. have been completed. Beginning September 12, the contractor, responsible for paving the final driving surface, will begin milling the top 3” of roadway and will replace it with new asphalt from curb to curb along West Wooster St., between Church St. and Haskins Rd., and Haskins Rd., between W. Wooster and Parker St. The intersections at Poe Rd. and Wallace Ave. will be completed during this timeframe as well. Intermittent lane closures should be expected as this work progresses. It’s expected that this project will be completed by the end of the month. Completion date is dependent on weather and progress of work.
Follow along with this and other Capital Improvement Projects on the City’s Capital Improvement Map, which can be found on the City’s website: www.bgohio.org. - Road Widening of E. Wooster Street Delays
Beginning August 21, westbound traffic will be restricted on E. Wooster St., between Dunbridge Rd. and Carter Rd., due to a road widening project that will create a turn lane into the new FedEx entrance. Eastbound through traffic on E. Wooster will be permitted during this project. Westbound traffic on E. Wooster will be detoured at the Carter Rd. intersection.
This project/lane closure is expected to last a minimum of 30 days. This schedule is subject to weather and progress of work. - Demolition of Old City Building Project Update (7/26)
The new City Building located at 305 N. Main Street officially opened to the public on Tuesday, July 18th. The next phase of the City Building project involves the demolition of the old building (304 N. Church St.) and construction of the shared parking lot with the Wood County District Public Library. Impacts to parking and site access will occur as this phase of the project progresses.
Beginning July 31, City staff must park exclusively in Public Parking Lot 4. As a result, “City Staff Only” signs will be placed in additional parking spaces within Lot 4. During business hours the public will not be permitted to park in the “City Staff Only” spaces. The Police Division will be enforcing these temporary parking restrictions. Those visiting the City Building should park in the public parking area located to the north of the new City Building. Dedicated handicapped parking is available in this parking area as well.
Beginning August 7, parking restrictions will extend further into the library’s main parking lot. Use of the library lot will be restricted to the southern portion only, with access from Court St. Library patrons may also use the Carter House Parking Lot
From August 7 through August 11th, access to the new City Building will be limited to one-way traffic from Main St. to Church St. This is required due to the demolition of 304 N. Church Street. The demolition should be completed by August 14th. At that point, traffic will be allowed to turn right or left into the parking area from Main Street. Vehicles must exit onto Church St. Traffic will have full access from Church St., meaning, both left and right turns will be allowed to and from Church Street.
Throughout the demolition, pedestrians will have access to the City Building utilizing the sidewalk along the western side of the library. Both entrances to the library will remain open during the demolition.
Construction of the shared parking area is scheduled to begin on/around September 11th. Included in this phase of work is the excavation of the area needed for the 74,000-gallon stormwater detention basin (located essentially where 304 N. Church Street is located) and the northern portion of the shared parking area. Again, library patrons will only be able to utilize the southern portion of the existing library main lot (with access from Court Street) and the Carter House Lot.
Beginning October 16, the parking lot construction area will expand to encompass the southern portion of the library parking area. Library patrons should park in the Carter House Parking Lot until the project is complete. The project completion date is currently estimated to be October 31. This timeline is subject to progress of work. - Water Service Line Mapping Continues
The Water and Sewer Division has begun the process of identifying and mapping water service line materials throughout the city. Residents must schedule a time with City staff or designated subcontractor (GIS Landmark) staff to provide access to their property to inspect their service line materials. These inspections will occur in phases across the city, and residents will be notified by door hangers when it is appropriate to schedule their inspection.
What this means:
• Bowling Green City water is safe.
• The City is required by the Ohio and US EPA to identify and map service materials within its distribution system.
• City employees and GIS Landmark staff, hired by the City of Bowling Green, will be performing these scheduled inspections and can provide identification.
• This scheduled inspection will only take a few minutes of your time.
• Per Policy #3002 City of Bowling Green Policy Matters Governing Water Systems Operations – 6a: Any identified employee or representative of the City Water Division shall at all reasonable hours, have access to the property for the purpose of examining pipes, meters, connections, and other appurtenances involving the City’s water supply and for examining, replacing, repairing or removing any meter, piping, instrument or connection that is part of the City’s water system.
Residents are reminded that City staff, and contractors, will be wearing uniforms, driving marked vehicles, and carrying proper identification. Questions about this project or inspector identification verification can be directed to 419-354-6277 or 419-354-6236. Safety concerns should be reported to the Bowling Green Police Division by calling 419-352-1131. - Farmer's Market Road Closures
In conjunction with the Farmers’ Market scheduled every Wednesday from May 10 to October 18, a portion of Clough Street will be closed to traffic and parking restrictions will occur. Each week at 3:30 p.m., Clough Street, between Main Street and Prospect, will be closed to traffic. Additionally, parking within this section of Clough will be prohibited and access to City Parking Lot 2 will be restricted. All other entrances/exits to and from Lot 2 will remain open. Clough Street will open and parking will be reinstated at 7:00 p.m. each week. - Water Hydrant Flushing and Testing Program
- Callery Pear Trees Added to List of Banned Invasive Plants in Ohio
- Carter Park Disc Golf Improvements
- 2023 Residential Paving Projects
- Ongoing Capital Projects
- The City of Bowling Green Official Website