Harrison West In The News and On The Move

By Rob Harris
What an exciting time to be a part of such a vibrant and exciting neighborhood as Harrison West. We recently had our groundbreaking of Harrison Park with (from right to left) Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Executive Director Alan McKnight, Harrison West Society President Rob Harris and Council Aid Carl Williams, standing proudly at the podium. The park has been six years in the making and will be well worth the time spent when completed.

On September 7, our neighborhood was featured in the Columbus Dispatch with an article titled “Neighborhood Goes from Downtrodden to Trendy.” The article is a great explanation of the steady and consistent progress we have made since the formation of the Harrison West Society more than 32 years ago.

The new Harrison Park that will soon grace the east bank of the Olentangy River just north of Downtown is the latest piece of a plan to complete the Harrison West neighborhood.

The transformation has been years in the making, turning a once-downtrodden area into a trendy neighborhood of renovated, colorful frame houses and immaculate gardens dotting its brick side streets.

The parkland is a perfect example.

“That site was a blighted industrial area that was pulling down the entire area of the neighborhood,” said Jacob Sukosd, a Harrison West resident. “No one wanted to live next to an old factory.”

Work began last week on the 4.3-acre park between Quality Place and W. 2nd Avenue. It will include a playground, a gazebo with a copper roof, a new lane for the Olentangy Trail and sculptures designed by Columbus College of Art & Design students. (full story)

As the president of the Society and as your neighbor and friend, I cannot express enough my appreciation and good fortune to work with such great residents and community leaders. The Society Park Committee, under the direction of Chair Bob Mangia, has worked dilegently to see that our neighborhood continues to grow and prosper. Bravo to all for making our neighborhood what it is: a great place to live, work and play.

Thank you and Bravo to all,
Rob Harris

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