Sandusky celebrates progress at State of the City address

SANDUSKY — Yes, Sandusky has witnessed unprecedented progress in terms of government collaboration, public-private partnerships and citizen satisfaction with their community.But, no, officials won't stop there because, quite simply, it's not good enough for them — or residents, visitors, entrepreneurs and, as a whole, Sandusky.At Thursday's annual State of the City address at Castaway Bay, during a Sandusky Rotary Club meeting, officials made that particular notion abundantly clear to almost 200 people in attendance.Sandusky High School student Wyatt Schenk, a member of Sandusky's new youth commission, listens to the State of the City address on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Castaway Bay. For instance, in 2017, they're pleased with enhancing eight parks, improving 29 sections of sidewalks, tearing down 44 condemned properties and committing $1.25 million for various neighborhood upgrades.Though it's not enough, and more must be done for Sandusky to fulfill its destiny as a destination location for all, city manager Eric Wobser said."I have heard people say, 'Momentum is really hard to get, but it's critical to keep it once you get it,'" said Wobser, the event's featured speaker. "Sandusky has worked hard to create momentum and will have to work even harder to continue that momentum in order to keep the community moving forward."Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser gives an update on what happened in Sandusky throughout 2017 during the annual State of the City address on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Wobser's speech occurred during a Sandusky Rotary Club meeting at Castaway Bay. Highlights from Wobser's speech, to help prove his point, included:• Creating higher-educational opportunities: Wobser unveiled a new rendering for a brick-and-mortar center, a partnership between Bowling Green State University and Cedar Fair, focused on a resort and attraction management curriculum.• Engaging with and learning from area children: Wobser introduced local high school students who now serve on the city's new youth commission.• Pushing forward a major recreational trail: Wobser revealed new details about the Sandusky Bay Pathway. His expectations: within a decade, increase its overall length to 80 miles, circling around and spanning waterfront areas between Port Clinton and Vermilion.Community members gather for Sandusky's annual State of the City presentation Thursday afternoon during a Sandusky Rotary Club meeting at Castaway Bay. Among those who spoke include Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr.Tracking the progressIn 2015, after a series of public meetings with community members, Sandusky officials revealed their master plan, which outlines dozens of upgrades to improve the city.Named the bicentennial vision process, after Sandusky's 200-year anniversary in 2018, the document includes:• A strategic, or short-term, plan, which sets aggressive goals to progress Sandusky within the next decade.• A comprehensive, or long-term, plan, which sets even more bold initiatives to develop infrastructure, buildings and areas for overall city advancement in the coming decades.The process breaks up into five separate components — vibrant city, livable city, connected city, destination city and celebrated city — in hopes of improving all facets of Sandusky.Here's what officials accomplished in 2017 to satisfy those goals:1. Vibrant cityWhat: An effort to improve the economy in and around Sandusky by building relationships with private sector operators and providing public funds for new and existing city businesses.How: Among three more notable tasks undertaken and completed in 2017:• Revitalized vacant buildings and blighted land by clearing underutilized spaces, such as the former American Crayon site; razing empty, dilapidated homes; and reducing how many vacant commercial buildings — from 115 in 2012 to 12 in 2018 — exist in Sandusky• Invested about $1.5 million, through public and private contributions, for environmental remediation• Partnered with Bowling Green State University and Cedar Fair to establish a brick-and-mortar learning center somewhere downtown; Opening by 2020, it will offer an academic program tailored around tourism-related courses. The investment could total as much as $25 million.2. Livable cityWhat: An effort to improve living conditions through better code enforcement, neighborhood development and zoning operations in hopes of more people choosing to reside in Sandusky.How: Among three more notable tasks undertaken and completed in 2017:• Implemented and carried out plans related to the Sandusky Neighborhood Initiative, a $1.25 million project calling for vastly improving six targeted areas by 2021• Planted 125 trees, trimmed 159 trees and removed 129 trees; Tree City Use recognized Sandusky, for the 27th consecutive year, as well.• Improved various playgrounds through:— Installing a new scoreboard for youth baseball games at Erie Blacktop Field at AMVETS Park— Placing new basketball hoops at Orlando Pace Park— Rebuilding Wilbert Street Park, which consisted of a new playground— Upgrading play areas, the parking lot, green spaces and more at Lions Park— Repairing the shelter roof at Shoreline Park— Enhancing landscaping at the Cholera Cemetery— Creating a monarch pollinator garden at the Cholera Cemetery— Planting 4,800 plants on each of the eight floral mounds in Washington Park3. Connected cityWhat: An effort to promote multimodal transportation, such as making Sandusky a better community for walking and bicycling, by focusing on parks, pathways and public transportationHow: Among three more notable tasks undertaken and completed in 2017:• Unveiled plans to expand the Sandusky Bay Pathway leading into The Landing, a new waterfront park behind Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center; The $24 million project could be fully completed within 10 years or, quite possibly, sooner than that.• Rolled out new busing routes for Sandusky Transit to provide riders with a faster, and overall better, experience on the vehicles• Introduced wayfinding signs, or markers, pointing people to popular destinations, in hopes of better welcoming visitors into Sandusky4. Destination city• What: An effort to entice and keep more people in Sandusky, especially downtown, so they can shop, eat and spend time at the city's unique offerings, such as Lake Erie and Cedar Point.How: Among three more notable tasks undertaken and completed in 2017:• Supported public art projects, such as a mural behind the Sandusky State Theatre, and created a public arts and culture commission to recommend future projects• Completed the planning process for the Jackson Street Pier, an investment totaling upward of $7 million to redevelop this public waterfront property into a gathering spot for community members• Activated the Schade-Mylander Plaza with the help of "place-making" projects, such as the Battleship of Lake Erie game and Adirondack chairs5. Celebrated City• What: An opportunity to change Sandusky's public perception from one of loss and decline to one of revitalization and growth.How: Among three more notable tasks undertaken and completed in 2017:• Planned several events to commemorate Sandusky's bicentennial, or 200th anniversary, all through 2018• Hosted the State of the State address, given by Gov. John Kasich, in April 2017• Created various social media pages to promote events and activities happening in SanduskyReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr. speaks to attendees during Thursday's State of the City address at Castaway Bay.