Meeting with the Mayor of Beachwood

Meeting with the Mayor of Beachwood

Mayor Merle S. Gorden
Mayor Merle S. Gorden
Mayor Merle S. Gorden

Mayor Merle S. Gorden shares the latest on the City of Beachwood and why it garners 100,000 visitors per day.

What makes the Beachwood area so appealing?

The City of Beachwood is appealing for its many unique attributes, including a superior transportation infrastructure with close proximity to major highways, including I-271 and I-480, an educated workforce, a top-rated school district and quality housing stock that continues to attract residences and businesses.

Beachwood attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors daily and is home to nearly 12,000 residents and nearly 3,000 businesses. We offer high-quality municipal services, including many programs for young children and families. Our safety forces have been recognized for their outstanding service.

Why should families visit the area? How does the city work to create an environment that is family friendly?

Our neighborhoods are safe and well maintained. Beachwood City Schools benefit from excellent, experienced staff and teachers. With more than two miles of paved park trails, the city supplies doggie bags and restrooms that are open from sunrise to sunset. Beautiful playgrounds offer picnic tables, large shade trees and restrooms, and during the summer, a concession stand is open.

Preston’s H.O.P.E. park and the Family Aquatic Center provide outdoor resources for families of all kinds.

Youth sports programs include baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football, wrestling and basketball. If sports aren’t for you, we have an amazing community theatre program that allows children the opportunity to get on stage or behind it with stage production. The city operates five-day camps for residents and non-residents from kindergarten to the eighth grade. Additionally, before or after camp childcare is provided.

The Beachwood Police Department and the City of Beachwood are in the process of building a city-owned and operated wireless infrastructure system that will provide its safety forces with some of the fastest communications the region has ever seen. The new fiber/wireless network will result in better safety for Beachwood officers, residents and city visitors. In another step toward regional cooperation, Beachwood in 2012 began performing police and fire dispatching services for the City of Pepper Pike.

Are there any plans to grow or expand areas of the city?

We have a solid foundation of economic success in the City of Beachwood and we are continuing our commitment to serving, improving and growing our community by looking forward. We recognize that our ability to provide excellent municipal services depends upon keeping our vibrant business community healthy. We work hard with our businesses to encourage job retention and job growth in Beachwood.

One area of focus for economic development growth is Commerce Park, a 190-acre industrial/business center. With recent zoning changes, Commerce Park is now being transformed into an updated, thriving business and residential center attracting young professionals, high-tech startups and medical companies. Construction is currently underway for a fourth luxury apartment complex in Commerce Park.

How does economic development and growth happen in the Beachwood area?

Growth in the City of Beachwood happens through communication, knowledge and accessibility. Beachwood’s well-earned reputation for its thriving business community is built upon a foundation locally referred to as “the golden triangle”; a collaborative partnership between the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and Beachwood City Schools. Maintaining consistent communication and working together allows these three entities to grow in a productive atmosphere of cooperation and progress. The City and Chamber recently launched Beachwood’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to attract and better assist businesses and visitors.

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