About

The City of Willowick Recreation Department is proud to provide the community a wide variety of recreational programming and services. The department continues to revise and expand program offerings in response to the needs and interests of the residents of Willowick. All residents can take advantage of the diverse number of programs and activities sponsored by the department on an annual basis. Young or old, there is something that is sure to peak your interest. Browse around the 2022 Spring & Summer Program Guide to see the great Programs & Events the city is offering! Programs are available for Online Sign-ups! View the line-up for the Concerts in the Park 2022 Schedule sponsored by the Willowick Senior Center & NOPEC. For a preview of what is to come this year view our Spotlighting Willowick.

Julie Kless, Recreation Director

The Recreation Department coordinates all city sponsored recreational activities, programs, and facilities within Willowick. We also collaborate closely with youth sports leagues such as Willowick Baseball, Willowick Soccer, Willowick Football, and the Willowick Swim Team to coordinate facility use and program schedules. The Department also works closely with a number of civic non-profit agencies and organizations such as Lake Metroparks and the Willowick Chamber of Commerce to positively influence recreation opportunities.

The department has three full-time staff members. We also work extensively with the Parks Buildings and Lands Division of the Willowick Service Department. Collectively we are all dedicated to provide the residents of Willowick well-maintained modern facilities and beautiful parks. The department is proud to boast about the Richard J. Bonde Activities Center at Manry Park, the Willowick Senior Center, the new water playground at Dudley Park, and the numerous recreational facility upgrades and improvements within the city.

Please feel free to call or e-mail us with any suggestion or comments regarding programs and/or activities.

Julie Kless
Director of Recreation

STAFF:

Julie Kless, Director of Recreation
440-516-3011
jkless@cityofwillowick.com

Julie has been with the Willowick Recreation Department since 2000. She has served as the Facilities Coordinator at Willowick Activities Center, as Assistant Recreation Director, and now as the Director of Recreation. She is responsible for managing the daily operations and activities of the department, which include programming, budgeting, promotion, directing staff, and developing new events and activities. Prior to coming to Willowick, Julie was the assistant athletic director at Gilmour Academy and also was involved in establishing and maintaining recreation programs at Lakeland Community College.

Scott Ritchey, Program Coordinator
440-516-3011
sritchey@cityofwillowick.com

Scott has an associates degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Lakeland Community College. He is responsible for all facets of the Summer Recreation Camp and is involved in offering special programs and events throughout the year. Scott has worked for the Recreation Department since 2006.

Maureen Brennan, Recreation Department Secretary
440-516-3011
mbrennan@cityofwillowick.com

Maureen has been the Recreation Department secretary since 1996. She is responsible for handling correspondence, communications, facility and pool rentals and providing support in all phases of the Recreation Department. She is also the Recreation Board secretary.

Recreation Parks & Facilities

Manry Park
30100 Arnold Drive
-Richard J. Bonde Activities Center (440-516-3011)
-Gymnasium- with indoor basketball hoops
-Manry Pool (440-944-1575- During Season)
-Football Field w/ Press box & Scoreboard
-Outside Pavilion
-1/2 Mile Outdoor Walking Trail with 4 Exercise Stations
-Baseball/softball Diamonds
-Outdoor Playground
-Wooded Area with Picnic tables and charcoal grills
-Family Fun Zone- Equipped with Bocce Ball, Permanent Corn Hole Boards, Hop Scotch, & 4-Square.

Dudley Park
31500 Willowick Drive
-Field House (hall with kitchen)
-Pool (440-943-3970- During Season)
-Water Spray Park- Willowick Residents with Membership Tag required
-Outside Pavilion
-Softball Diamonds
-Outdoor Playground
-Outdoor Basketball Hoops

Roosevelt Park
E. 324 St.
-T-Ball Diamond
-Soccer Fields
-Open Green Space
-Small Child Playground Equipment

Recreation Board Members

Rena Perchinske, Chairwoman
Nikki Jablonski
Jason Kramer
Ryan Latini
Carol Paulic
Kelly Peterlin
Chris Spicuzza

The Recreation Board meets at City Hall on the 3rd Monday of every month at 7:30pm except during summer months which will be at 8:30pm.

American Heart Association Heart Walk

Please review the Heart Walk Information to participate in this years Heart Walk, for the Activity Tracker & make a donation to Team Marn/ Regovich. For information on the Heart Walk Activity Tracker available on a smart phone device please view the Heart Walk Move More Challenge Toolkit. Call the Recreation Dept. at 440-516-3011 with any questions.

Summer Camp Counselor Positions

The Recreation Dept. is accepting applications for the Sumer Camp Counselor position. If interested please submit the RECREATION DEPT. EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION to Manry Park as soon as possible.

Join the Willowick Wildkats Swim Team

Join the Willowick Wildkats Swim team! Visit Willowick Swim Team for more information!

Girls Softball Registrations

Girls Softball League registrations for ages 7 & up are now done through the Recreation Dept. at Manry. Stop by during our office hours to get your child registered.

Spring & Summer Program Guide

Browse around the 2022 Spring & Summer Program Guide to see the great Programs & Events the the city is offering! Register online!

Follow the Recreation Dept. on Facebook!

Like the Recreation Dept. Page on Facebook for information on Programs & Community Events!

Willowick Recreation Facebook Page

Vine Street Corridor Planning Study

Laketran is co-hosting a series of public meetings with NOACA and cities of Willoughby, Eastlake, and Willowick to receive public feedback on ways to enhance the Vine Street corridor in terms of multi-modal connectivity and streetscaping.

The first public meeting was held at the Willoughby Senior Center.

The second meeting will be held Monday, May 16 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Eastlake City Hall, 35150 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake, OH 44095. Public transit options: Local Route 3 or Dial-a-Ride.

Traffic Light Vine St. & E. 317 St.

We have received several complaints in regards to the traffic light at the Vine St. and E. 317 St. intersection. The light is in recall mode due to a loop that was broken when Lake County Utilities repaired a water break there. This light will be fixed when LCDU begins their Waterline Project on Vine St. We have no time estimate on this project and appreciate your patience please use caution.

Lake County Special Collections

Appliances, Electronics, Monitors, TVs, & Tires
Unloaded by Resident
Collection Season: June 6 thru August 31
Lake County Landfill & Recycling Center
2039 Blase Nemeth Rd. Painesville Twp.
Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Hazardous Waste Event Dates
Unloaded by Collection Team
June 11 and September 24
Lake County Fairgrounds
1301 Mentor Ave., Painesville Twp., enter via Mentor Ave.
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Please follow the link for special collection details:

2022-Special Collections Detailed Flyer

2022 Road Repaving Project

Willowick’s Road Repaving Project for 2022 is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday, April 19th and last roughly through the end of June. These times are all weather dependent and the schedule is very fluid. Crews will begin with asphalt milling and pavement planning on the following streets: Dickerson Rd. from Bayridge Blvd. to Royalview Dr., E.310th St., Mildred Dr., Gilchrist Dr., Arlington Circle and E. 285th St. Some concrete slab repairs will also be done on Carrington Court. In addition to these streets, work will begin on the intersection of Fairway Blvd. and Forestgrove Rd. the same week. Please be patient as some traffic delays may arise.

Todd Shannon
Service Director
City of Willowick
31230 Vine St.
Willowick OH, 44095
(440)585-0963

First Energy Tree Pruning

First Energy has contracted Pennline Tree Service to prune trees around electric wires in the City. Crews will be working throughout the City for the next few weeks. A representative from Pennline confirmed that notification will be taped to a homeowners door to inform them that crews will be in their area working.

If you have questions or concerns please contact: Ty Pugh with Pennline Tree Service at 724-787-8458

Hometown Hero Veteran Banner

Hometown Heroes Veteran Banner Program

The City of Willowick’s Hometown Heroes Veteran Banner Program is a tribute to recognize and honor our residents and their immediate family members who are currently serving or who have served our country in the armed forces. Banners are hung from Memorial Day in May through Veterans Day (November 11). New applications will be accepted starting January 3, 2022 and will end March 31, 2022. The cost for a new banner is $125.00. If you have any questions please contact Angela Trend in City Hall at 440-585-3700 Ext. 230.
Please click on the link below to download an application.

Hometown Heroes Application 2022
Hometown Heroes Application - Service Era Listing

Building & Service Departments

DUE TO DEPARTMENTAL WIDE COVID-19, OUR OFFICE WILL REMAIN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. PLEASE USE THE INBOX (LOCKED) TO DROP OFF PERMIT REQUESTS AND OTHER ITEMS FOR REVIEW AND THE OUTBOX FOR PICK-UPS.

WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN YOUR PERMIT IS READY FOR PICK UP.

THANK YOU,

BUILDING AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Residents to Receive NOPEC Natural Gas Enrollment Letters Soon

Eligible residents and small business owners in the City of Willowick will be receiving a natural gas enrollment letter for the City’s natural gas aggregation program through NOPEC. NOPEC is required by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to send these letters to all eligible residential and small business customers in NOPEC member communities every two years. Letters will begin mailing in early November for enrollment into the natural gas program for the period beginning January 2022 through June 2023.
If you want to enroll in NOPEC’s Standard Program Price, you don’t need to take any action when you receive your enrollment letter. You will automatically be enrolled. Additional program options including fixed term and monthly variable pricing can be viewed online at http://nopec.org/checkrates or by calling NOPEC’s Customer Care Center at 1-855-667-3201. If you don’t want to enroll in the natural gas aggregation, you must return the opt-out form included with your enrollment letter to NOPEC by mail or by fax to 440-774-4422 by no later than December 13, 2021.

SID – Shoreline Special Improvement District

We have received the first round of funding for the Special Improvement District (SID). If you would like to be a part of this program and have not yet filled out the petition please click on this link SID Petition. Please read and fill the petition out. Once complete please drop the paperwork off at City Hall, 30435 Lakeshore Blvd., Willowick or email to atrend@cityofwillowick.com . More information will follow.

Recordings of the July 28 and August 11 virtual meetings regarding the Lakeshore Boulevard and Lakefront Redevelopment TLCI Project are now available on the website.