HARTVILLE − A heritage gateway marker, road paving, sewer replacement projects and the expansion of a local nonprofit organization are planned this year in Hartville.
Here is what’s new for 2025 in the village of roughly 3,300 residents:
Gateway markers to pay tribute to Hartville’s history
The Lake Township Chamber of Commerce and Hartville/Lake Community Development, a nonprofit corporation formed in October 2019 by business owners and community leaders, plan to build two heritage gateway markers to welcome residents and visitors as they enter and leave the West Maple Street corridor.
The first gateway marker, which is expected to be completed this year, will be installed at 110 N. Prospect Ave., located on the eastern side of the West Maple Street and Prospect Avenue intersection, across from the Hartville Pantry.
Chamber President Chip Weisel said the markers will help distinguish the West Maple Street corridor and pay tribute to the village’s history.
“Hartville is Hartville because of this intersection of a very strong agricultural community at our origin and also the railroad because that’s why Hartville is the one incorporated area in Lake Township,” he said.
A rendering of the eastern gateway marker shows two stone walls curved around a brick circular walkway that leads to a mounted script Hartville sign.
Weisel said the walls will be built with barn stone as a tribute to the village’s agricultural roots. The round brick walkway is a nod to the railroad and will include rails between the brick pavers to create the look of wheel spokes. The steel structure represents the village’s industrial background.
Weisel said about 90% of the roughly $125,000 needed for the eastern gateway marker has been raised. Engraved brick pavers for the walkway that range in price from $100 to $500 also are being sold to help fund the project.
The western gateway marker will be built in the roundabout in front of Hartville Hardware, Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery and Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market on Edison Street NW. Weisel said it will be a similar design but not identical to the eastern gateway due to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s restrictions for what can be placed in a roundabout. He said the western marker will be installed within the next two years.
The gateway markers are part of the community development organization's West Maple revitalization project, which seeks to improve and connect the roughly two-mile stretch between the historical downtown and the tourist destinations.
Road and sewer projects ahead
Streets within the Cornerstone allotment will be paved this year, marking the first project under the village’s 10-year road paving plan that uses revenue from the half-percent income tax increase that voters approved in 2023. Council previously has said the Cornerstone neighborhood, which is just north of Lake Middle/High School, contains some of the village’s most deteriorated streets. Northstar Paving has been hired for $551,981 to complete the paving project.
Sunnyside Street SW also will be paved this summer from South Prospect Avenue to Grand Trunk Avenue. The village received a state transportation grant for $160,300, which will cover nearly half of the estimated construction cost.
The ongoing replacement of the village’s main sanitary sewer line to the Hartville Waste Water Treatment Plant is expected to be finished in May. The village received a $450,000 grant for the $1.5 million project, which goes under a railroad track and crosses property owned by TDY Industries, formerly Teledyne Monarch Rubber.
After the main sewer project finishes, a stormwater pipe will be repaired on the former Monarch Rubber property. The broken pipe was found when a sinkhole appeared. The village received an emergency grant to pay for 90% of the project, up to $67,140.
A sanitary sewer line also will be replaced along Howard Court SE this summer. The village received a $196,000 grant for the estimated $427,995 project.
Village’s first strategic plan being developed
Council is developing the village’s first strategic plan to help guide decisions regarding economic development, accessibility, attracting and retaining qualified people, financial accountability and safety and resources.
Councilman Tim Hayden, who is leading the efforts, said council analyzed the village’s strengths, weaknesses, areas of opportunity and threats in 2012 but didn’t create a formal plan. He said council recently conducted a new strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats analysis and found that some of the 2012 issues still exist today.
“That helped confirm for everyone on council that since we’re identifying the same things that we said we needed to address 13 years ago, that we probably need a plan,” Hayden said.
The planning discussions already have moved council to create a 10-member business advisory board to advise council on ways to improve economic development opportunities in the village. The board’s first meeting will be April 22.
Hayden expects council to complete the strategic plan this year and begin to take the plan’s action steps starting early next year.
He said residents can monitor the plan’s progress and provide feedback during council’s meetings that are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at Village Hall at 202 W. Maple St.
Love Our Community looks to expand
Love Our Community, a nonprofit organization that helps people and families in the Hartville and Lake Township area with housing, food, clothing, counseling and other needs, is seeking to expand its operations to the former Hartville Church of God at 532 W. Maple St.
The organization is asking Hartville Village Council to change the zoning of the church's corner lot from residential to general business so that it can move its retail operation and offices to the site and add a café and seating for fewer than 50 people
The organization, which began in 2018, will continue to store large items and its sorting operations at its 1236 Sunnyside St. SW location.
The other three parcels the organization is seeking to buy from Hartville Church of God – 526 W. Maple St., 543 Sunnyside St. SW and a vacant paved property just east of the Sunnyside property – would remain residential, according to a presentation by Love Our Community and its architect to the village planning commission.
The planning commission has recommended that the zone change be approved.
Council will hold a public hearing on the rezoning request at 6:15 p.m. on April 14.
Art in the Park, 720 Market, holiday celebrations set
Here are some upcoming events:
- Art in the Park, which was held for the first time last year to celebrate the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce’s finished mural, is returning June. 7. The event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 115 S. Prospect Ave. and will include art exhibits, live music and dancers, food trucks and a market with handmade crafts and gifts from local artisans.
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- 720 Market in the ‘Ville is returning for its third year from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 4. The outdoor event features shopping, food, art and music.
- Evening in the Village will be held on Dec. 7 to celebrate the holiday season and will include a Santa visit, tree lighting, choirs and kids activities.
Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.