Ontario clears the way for safer streets with Park Avenue property purchase

ONTARIO — A long-vacant house on Park Avenue West has become much more than an eyesore for Ontario leaders. They see it as the missing piece in a larger plan to connect neighborhoods, improve pedestrian safety and reshape the city’s future.

Ontario City Council recently approved funding to help the Ontario Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) purchase the property at the intersection with Shelby-Ontario Road.

Mayor Josh Bradley said the acquisition of the land at 3620 Park Ave. West clears the way for future sidewalk and crosswalk improvements while advancing the city’s long-term vision for a more walkable community.

“Our residents are ready for it to be gone,” Bradley said. “It was one of the first things I started working on when I came into office in January.”

The city will provide $105,000 to the CIC for the three-lot property. Bradley credited the organization with helping move the deal across the finish line after months of negotiations.

Once the purchase closes, the next step is to demolish the building and clear the site.

Removing a roadblock

Bradley said the property has complicated discussions about improving the intersection and expanding pedestrian access through Ontario.

The city plans to complete an intersection study next year to determine whether changes, including a possible turn lane, could improve traffic flow and safety.

More importantly, Bradley said the house blocks a key connection identified in Ontario’s Safe Routes to School plan.

“There are a lot of issues with that location,” Bradley said. “That house was a major roadblock for us to be able to expand with this project.”

Ontario Local Schools Superintendent Keith Strickler said the effort has been years in the making.

“Much of the issues, whether it’s the School Travel Plan, the connectivity, safety or traffic, it all goes back to that dang intersection,” Strickler said.

He said purchasing the Park Avenue West property was the critical domino that had to fall before the city could safely install a crosswalk.

“We tried anything we could think of to find a place for it, and ultimately that location is the safest, best place to connect the neighborhoods, school and Marshall Park,” Strickler said.

The Safe Routes to School Travel Plan outlines strategies to improve safety for students and residents who walk or bike throughout the community. The city developed the plan with Ontario Local Schools and Burton Planning Services through an Ohio Department of Transportation grant.

The plan positions Ontario to compete for future state funding for sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals and other mobility improvements within two miles of school campuses.

Community surveys revealed many families want to walk or bike to school but worry about traffic, speeding vehicles and missing sidewalks.

Survey respondents identified several intersections, including Shelby-Ontario Road at Park Avenue West and Rudy Road at Park Avenue West, as significant barriers to walking and biking. Residents also cited high traffic speeds and volumes along State Route 314 as deterrents to walking and biking.

Despite those challenges, many participants expressed strong support for pedestrian improvements, especially near the schools and Marshall Park.

Creating a vision for old Ontario

Bradley said those concerns match what city leaders heard while developing Ontario’s comprehensive plan.

“When you look at this comprehensive plan, connectivity stood out to me,” Bradley said.

He said residents repeatedly described a vision for an “Old Ontario” with connected neighborhoods, sidewalks and gathering spaces where people can easily walk between schools, parks and businesses.

“The key is to branch out from those sidewalks connected to the school and help connect all the other neighborhoods, so if they want to walk to the park, they can,” Bradley said.

For Strickler, the project is also personal.

An Ontario graduate, he remembers walking and riding his bike to football and basketball practices as a student.

“You can’t do that now,” Strickler said. “It’s just too dangerous.”

He said families often have no choice but to drive between neighborhoods, schools and parks because walking and biking aren’t safe.

“I would love for the kids that grow up here to have a lot of the same experiences I had before the traffic got so bad,” he said.

Strickler said improving connectivity will do more than make travel safer.

“It gets people active and helps them get connected,” he said.

He also praised the collaboration among city officials, Ontario Local Schools and the Ontario CIC for turning years of planning into action.

“Lots of times you put together a comprehensive plan and nothing ever happens,” Strickler said. “But we’re actually doing it.”

The city also has submitted for the Safe Routes for All grant, which would support a citywide connectivity study beyond areas immediately surrounding schools.

Plans for after demolition

Amy Hiner, president of the Ontario CIC, said redeveloping the property has ranked among the organization’s top priorities since its formation.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Hiner said. “With our mission of the Ontario CIC to revitalize and invest back into Ontario, this was one of the first projects we talked about.”

Instead of a vacant property, Hiner said they plan to turn the site into a community green space.

Stating she envisions residents picking up food or drinks from nearby businesses before gathering outdoors, with the senior center and The Cove already located nearby.

“Everybody knows it as the dilapidated building in Ontario,” Hiner said. “We just want to change that perspective.”

Hiner said the CIC continues to use Ontario’s comprehensive plan as a guide for future redevelopment efforts.

“This is just the first among many things that the CIC plans to do to support redevelopment in Ontario,” she said.

The city also has partnered with the Richland County Land Bank to pursue grant funding for demolition of the Park Avenue West property.

Bradley said removing the structure will strengthen future grant applications by demonstrating Ontario’s willingness to invest in projects before seeking outside assistance.

“I’m basing everything on trying to deliver what our residents want,” Bradley said. “I’m just really excited about this and to see what we can do.”