Category Archives: Community News and Events

Helpful information about the community, including events. (Events may also appear on Calendar).

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City Tree Expert to Speak at FPCA Meeting on June 10: Urban Forestry, Tree Care, and New Rules

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Rosalie Hendon, an environmental planner with The Columbus Parks & Recreation Dept., will be our guest speaker at the FPCA’s June 10 meeting.

Appropriate for a neighborhood named Forest Park, Rosalie will discuss tree maintenance, planting, and provide updates on the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan.

The public tree code — which Hendon presented to City Council in her previous position as an environmental planner for Recreation & Parks — went into effect last August. The new regulations require “inch for inch” replacement of any trees removed from city property in the course of any development project.

Columbus has been named the fastest growing urban heat island in the country.

Rosalie manages natural resource projects on city parkland — everything from forests to prairies. She holds two master degrees from The Ohio State University in public administration and natural resources. She leads the creation of citywide environmental plans and policies, including Columbus’ first Urban Forestry Master Plan, public tree code updates, and the creation of private tree protections.

The private tree code would be a similar mitigation measure applying to trees removed from private property. Hendon told ColumbusUnderground.com that her department is not necessarily aiming to penalize the average person for taking down a tree in their backyard.

“We are looking primarily at when a property goes through development or redevelopment,” Hendon told ColumbusUnderfground.com. “There are cities that permit a tree removal when it’s just a single property owner and it’s a tree in their backyard kind of thing. But that is not something that we are looking at at this stage in Columbus, simply because we want it to be practical and realistic. And really we see a lot of loss and we hear a lot from our stakeholders and our residents when properties are experiencing a lot of loss of trees due to development. So we really wanted to focus in at that stage of property ownership.”

Rosalie wrote The Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP). The plan is available here.

Tree canopy has been identified as vital city infrastructure, as trees reduce urban stressors — cleaning the air and water, improving public health, providing shade, reducing heat stress and energy costs, intercepting stormwater and more. As the 14th largest city in the country with only 22% canopy cover, the City of Columbus recognized the need to plan for its trees.

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Forestry section is solely and legally responsible for all public trees in Columbus that grow along streets, in public parks and on all city properties.

The Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP) is the first citywide, strategic plan to improve Columbus residents’ quality of life through investment in urban trees.

Approved by Columbus City Council in April 2021, the UFMP guides the entire Columbus community to prioritize, preserve and grow our tree canopy. The UFMP sets three tree canopy goals:

  1. Reach Citywide Tree Canopy Cover of 40% by 2050
  2. Stop the Net Canopy Losses by 2030 and
  3. Invest in Equitable Canopy Across All Neighborhoods by 2030.

To accomplish these goals, the UFMP details four strategies: community coordination and collaboration, best practices, dedicated resources and stronger policies.

A video presentation of the plan is available on YouTube.

Tuesday, June 10, FPCA Meeting Schedule

6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Block Watch Meeting/Supplemental Security Report

Columbus Police Liaison Officer Dan Yandrich and our Supplemental Security chairpersons provide police and security updates and answer your questions.

6:30 – 7:00 p.m. 311/Code Enforcement Issues Discussion/NCC Development Report
Learn about the latest development plans and requests, new businesses, updates from the Northland Community Council, and ask about code enforcement issues.

7:00 – 8:00 FPCA General Meeting
Updates from our many committees, upcoming plans, and other discussion about Forest Park issues and events.

Meeting Location: Epworth United Methodist Church, 5100 Karl Rd., Columbus, OH 43229
(At the intersection of Karl Road and Penworth Drive)
Everyone in Forest Park is invited!

Be a part of the pasrk - Join the Forest Park Civic Association

What does your $30 FPCA membership do? A lot.

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What does your $30 do?

Some benefits of FPCA membership are easy to see. Some are not.

You can join the FPCA online right now.

Across Columbus, you can see the difference between neighborhoods that have an active civic association and those that do not.

We are not a homeowner’s association. We do not enforce neighborhood rules. We are a civic association that works to benefit all Forest Park residents.

Membership in the FPCA is only $30 per household. The FPCA is entirely run by volunteers who are residents just like you. That means every dollar is used to directly benefit our neighborhood.

We are dedicated to transparency and publish our Treasurer’s Report every month in The Forester newsletter. Our volunteer treasurer also provides an update at every FPCA monthly meeting (I invite you to join us for our next meeting).

What do you get for your annual membership contribution? Some benefits are obvious because you see them every day.

Benefits that you see:

  1. We pay to maintain the landscaped islands at the Satinwood Pl. entrances at Karl Rd.
  2. We recently paid to replace all Welcome to Forest Park signs at all entrances to Forest Park East and West.
  3. We pay to print The Forester newsletter every month and pay for the bags which allow volunteers on your street to hang the newsletters on your door.
  4. We pay the professional supplemental security patrol officers who regularly drive through the neighborhoods in their marked cars. Planning a vacation? Every FPCA member can request free home checks with the form in each Forester newsletter, at www.fpcivic.org or by emailing our volunteer Supplemental Security Coordinator Daryl Van Mercetta at dvanmercetta@gmail.com.
  5. We pay for the welcome folders and printed materials that we drop off to new residents who just moved into our neighborhood. These packets include information about Forest Park, maps of the streets, nearby businesses, voter registration information, and other helpful items to make our new neighbors feel at home.
  6. We pay for programs that recognize neighbors for their beautification efforts in the annual Beautification Contest, rewarding our neighbors who enrich our streets with improvements.
  7. We pay for supplies to build our float for the Northland Fourth of July Parade.
  8. We pay for awards for kids who decorate their bikes and trikes in the Fourth of July Parade.
  9. We pay for printing and postage to mail our annual Membership Packet to nearly 3,000 households, encouraging residents to join the FPCA.
  10. We pay for advertising to promote two Community Garage Sales each year, attracting buyers from around Central Ohio.
  11. We pay to design and print the Forest Park Directory, which is updated every several years and delivered to all member households.
  12. We pay for neighborhood social events.

Some benefits are not obvious but are just as important.

Benefits that you do not see:

  1. We pay dues to the Northland Community Council. The NCC is a critical organization that represents 26 area civic associations and organizations in the Northland area. The NCC represents more than 100,000 households and ensures that the City of Columbus recognizes Northland as an important political voice. Two FPCA volunteers currently serve on the commission and provide detailed reports at every FPCA meeting. The NCC is our most effective connection to the City of Columbus and makes recommendations to the city on behalf of Forest Park residents. Among many other services, the NCC protects us from many development and zoning plans that would harm our neighborhoods and maintains a direct two-way channel to city officials.
  2. We pay for insurance that is required for our non-profit organization.
  3. We pay for a P.O. Box and office supplies that are necessary to conduct our operations.
  4. We pay for payment processing fees that are necessary for online membership payments.

Join your neighbors today with your FPCA Membership

You can join the FPCA right now and pay online.

We also welcome your participation and talents.

Want to learn more and get involved? Join us at our next monthly meeting.

 

Forest Park residents can attend the City of Columbus’ Neighborhood Best Practices Conference

Neighborhood Best Practices Conference

Devin Deal, Northland’s Neighborhood Liaison for the City of Columbus, invited Forest Park residents to attend the city’s Neighborhood Best Practices Conference on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Devin was the guest speaker at the Forest Park Civic Association’s September meeting.

This year’s theme of the Best Practices Conference is Let US Grow Together.

“With 3 million people expected to call central Ohio home by 2050, we must work collectively to ensure our growth is equitable and allows everyone to prosper,” the city’s promotional materials states.

The event includes interactive sessions focused on key initiatives that will help address the challenges of our growing community. This event is free.

The city has requested attendees to RSVP online, but that option is no longer available. You can RSVP by contacting the Department of Neighborhoods at 614-645-1993.

When

Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 09:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location

Columbus State Community College, 315 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43215, View Map

Be a part of the pasrk - Join the Forest Park Civic Association

The FPCA needs your talent! Can you volunteer?

We need your talent!

If you already do volunteer… THANK YOU! You are one of the wonderful people who help us make Forest Park a great place to live. As you may know, we are a non-profit volunteer-run organization that serves 2,780 households.

But only a small fraction of residents volunteer with the FPCA. And we need some more help!

HERE ARE SOME VOLUNTEER POSITIONS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP:

Membership Coordinator – URGENT NEED
Memberships are our primary revenue and our connection to our community households. We need help to keep membership growing. No experience is necessary. We are looking for someone to help coordinate the process. This involves joining us at the monthly meetings 10 times a year, helping us plan and mail our annual membership packet, promoting the many benefits of membership, and tracking membership. You get plenty of help from our seasoned veterans.

Business Representative – URGENT NEED
Our Business Representatives connect with our many businesses in the area to promote business memberships, encourage advertising in our monthly Forester newsletter, and maintain good relationships with our local businesses. No experience necessary.

Area 14 Representative – Forest Park East
We need an Area Rep for Area 14 in Forest Park East, which includes a few streets near Lyle Rd. and Denise Dr. just south of Northland High School. Our Area Reps attend monthly meetings, deliver Welcome Folders to new residents in their areas and communicate news and concerns to and from the FPCA.

Website Administrator
The Website Admin helps update our website at fpcivic.org with news and events and performs other minor maintenance. WordPress experience is helpful.

Social Media Help
Are you handy with social media? Help us get the word out with your skills!

Area Representatives
Assist your current Area Rep by promoting membership, delivering Welcome Folders to new residents, and passing information to and from your block and the FPCA.

Other Opportunities
Please connect with us or attend a meeting if you are interested in something not listed here.

Email volunteerFPCA@gmail.com for more information.

Join us at our November Meeting!
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023
7 pm to 8 pm
Epworth United Methodist Church
5100 Karl Rd.

Our Block Watch meeting starts at 6 pm and our Code Enforcement meeting starts at 6:30 pm. This is our last public meeting of the year.

Zach Williams from State Bank will be the guest speaker. He will be sharing community outreach efforts and financial literacy class info. Free desserts will be served by the FPCA Social Committee.

Join the FPCA at the Northland Community Council’s Annual Cookout on Aug. 8

Join the Forest Park Civic Association at the Dogwood Area of Blendon Woods Metro Park on August 8 for the Northland Community Council’s Annual Cookout. Enjoy a cookout, outdoor games and the park’s walking trails.

There will be no August monthly meeting of the Forest Park Civic Association to allow officers, volunteers and members to attend this NCC cookout. There will be no Block Watch nor Code Meetings, either.

Dinner is at 6:30pm – NCC will provide free burgers, brats, hot dogs, soda, and water. Please bring a side dish to share.

The family-friendly picnic is open to everyone in Northland, including everyone in Forest Park.

The FPCA is a member of the Northland Community Council and several FPCA officers serve as board members.

The Northland Community Council (NCC) is a coalition of civic associations, home-owners associations and other community groups in the Northland area of Columbus, Ohio.

The NCC represents over 130,000 area residents (25-square miles of the City of Columbus) and works with Columbus City Council, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and a wide array of other city, county, state and non-profit organizations to continuously enhance the prosperity and quality of life enjoyed throughout the Northland community.

NCC logo

Project Area

Open House set for second phase of State Rte. 161 roundabout construction projects

Open House for State Route 161 Corridor Improvements – Phase 2 (Ambleside Dr. to Maple Canyon)

The City of Columbus and the Ohio Dept. of Transportation are hosting an Open House to discuss the second phase of proposed improvements to St. Rt. 161 (Dublin-Granville Rd.). This work is planned for the 2026 and 2027 construction seasons.

Phase 2 will include significant road construction, utility relocations, and detours.

Open House for Residents:

Thursday, June 29, 2023
11 am to 1 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Karl Rd. Library Branch, Meeting Rooms 1 & 2
5590 Karl Rd.

Residents unable to attend can find more information and submit comments at the link below.

The first phase of this project includes current roundabout-related construction work on Karl Rd. and Maple Canyon.

Improvements include:

  • Replace traffic signals at intersections of 161 and Tamarack/Sharon Woods and Beechcroft Rd.
  • Shared use path on the north and south sides of 161 between Ambleside and Maple canyon
  • Improve side streets along Tamarack/Sharon Woods and Beechcroft Rd. (install urban roundabouts, widen and repave streets, replace/install sidewalks, raised median between the roundabouts)
  • Curbs, curb ramps, street lighting, storm sewer improvements.

Project Goals and Needs

The project intends to improve safety and traffic operations while meeting identified needs including:

  • Improving access management
  • Accommodating future developments consistent with the City of Columbus access management standards and guidelines
  • Improving safety at the service road intersections
  • Improve Improving traffic flow

More information is available here:
https://www.publicinput.com/161ambleside

Meeting

Block Watch and Code Enforcement meetings will now precede FPCA meetings

We have made changes to our monthly meeting to become more efficient. Block Watch/Security and Code Enforcement/Development now have their own meetings preceding the FPCA meetings every month. Location is Epworth United Church at 5100 Karl Rd. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend all meetings.

Tuesday, June 13 – 6 to 6:30 pm
Block Watch/Security Meeting
Our Columbus Police Liaison officer Dan Yandrich and FPCA Supplemental Security Chair Daryl Van Mercetta will provide updates and take questions prior to the FPCA monthly meeting. Security issues will NOT be discussed at the regular FPCA meeting. If you have any concerns about crime and enforcement issues, THIS is where you get answers and make a difference.

Tuesday, June 13 – 6:30 to 7 pm
Code Enforcement/NCC Development Report
If you have any questions regarding any code issues (semi-trucks, cars parked on street, neighbor’s grass is uncut, etc.), this is the time to come and talk with the FPCA President and NCC Development Commission officers concerning those issues. You also get updates on what is being built around the neighborhood, roundabouts, street lights, speed bumps, traffic changes, etc. Code issues will NOT be discussed at the regular FPCA meeting.

Tuesday, June 13 – FPCA Monthly Meeting – All welcome!
7 to 8 pm – Epworth United Church, 5100 Karl Rd.
Get updates on community events, issues and news. Sit in and watch or get involved. Note the change in security and development reports above.

2022 Parade Float

Join us in the Northland Community Fourth of July Parade

The 59th annual parade, sponsored by the Northland Community Council, has set a 2023 theme of “Stronger Together”.

The parade is the only one in Central Ohio that occurs on the actual Independence Day holiday: Tuesday, July 4th.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. on July 4 in the Home Buys parking lot at Karl Rd. and Morse Rd. and travels north on Karl Road from Morse Road to Dublin-Granville Road (1.7 miles). It includes all of our favorite parade entries, including floats, cars, fire and police vehicles, veterans groups, bands, and others.

Forest Park Civic Associaton Fourth of July Parade 2022

Kids can be in the parade on their bikes, trikes and scooters

Kids can decorate their bikes, tricycles, and scooters and meet us at the parking area in front of the Woodward Park Middle School at 10:30 a.m. on July 4. The Bikes and Trikes will enter the parade when the Forest Park entry reaches the school and will proceed to Dublin-Granville Rd. Kids can exit the parade at Sandalwood Blvd. if they do not want to make the full trip.

The FPCA will present awards based on two themes: “Stronger Together” and “Patriotism”.

Parents or guardians must register participants and sign a waiver on site. Children five years of age and under must be accompanied by a parent or older child during the parade. All children will need to wear a helmet if riding a bicycle.

Help us organize and judge Bikes & Trikes

We need some volunteers to help us. It is a simple and fun job: just show up Woodward Park Middle School at 10:30 a.m. on July 4. If you would like to judge the Bikes & Trikes, email volunteerfpca@gmail.com.

Help build the FPCA float

We are seeking people to help plan and build our FPCA float and march with our parade entry. Our past entries have collected top awards from the parade organizers and promote our wonderful Forest Park neighborhood. Our 2022 float – designed and built by Mary Sguerra and Randy Via – won the “Best In Theme” award. Email volunteerfpca@gmail.com now to help.

Your organization, team or business can be in the parade

The registration fee for Commercial businesses is $85 on or before June 19 and $120 after that date. The registration fee for each politician is $135 on or before June 19 and $170 after that date. There is no registration fee for all other registrants, but the NCC asks you to consider supporting the parade by making a donation to help cover the parade’s expenses. You can also register to be a sponsor of the parade and receive additional recognition.

Find more information and register your entry at northlandparade.org/get-involved/be-in-the-parade/.

Learn more about the parade at northlandparade.org.

Photos by Dave Paul.