Lakewood has a long and prominent history of promoting greenery throughout our city; our ongoing efforts to encourage recycling by residents and businesses have formed collaboration and strength that Lakewood residents prize. Our city was one of Ohio’s early birds in implementing a recycling program, which began in the 1980s. Since then, the importance of protecting the environment and making responsible choices like recycling has remained a key priority for the residents of Lakewood.
In 2009, Lakewood’s “Green Refuse and Recycling Initiative” took a big step forward by automating the city’s refuse collection system and mandating recycling at municipal refuse collection properties. This was a significant move that has helped Lakewood continue its efforts toward reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable, greener future. Just recently, Lakewood opened a brand-new Refuse and Recycling Center on Berea Road, further promoting recycling and sustainability efforts throughout our city.
There are countless places in Lakewood where the city has intentionally allowed nature to roam freely, providing residents with serene spaces to enjoy and connect with the natural world. One great example is Lakewood Park, where the lower walkway offers stunning views of the city while surrounded by vibrant wildlife. Some of these areas are even blocked off, which highlights how committed Lakewood is to preserving the green spaces that remain, ensuring they stay protected for future generations to enjoy.
The LEAF organization, which stands for Lakewood Earth and Food, has been instrumental in making Lakewood even more beautiful through its numerous environmentally positive acts. LEAF plays a vital role in offering healthier food choices to the community, particularly through its summer farmer market pop-ups. They also provide a community-supported agriculture (CSA) pickup every Thursday night during the growing season, right in front of the Lakewood Public Library.
“Vendors come and they sell local produce and community-supported agriculture, [which] are organizations that work with farms less than 80 miles away,” LEAF president Sharon Hogan said. “This is a win-win for us and the farmers because farmers can sell their produce.”
This initiative demonstrates how LEAF contributes to sustainability and community health by making fresh, locally grown produce more accessible to residents. As Sharon mentioned, it also helps reduce the carbon footprint associated with food transportation, another positive step toward minimizing environmental impact.
Through initiatives like the summer farmer market pop-ups and the Thursday CSA pickups, LEAF brightens the local economy by supporting small-scale farms and encouraging healthy eating habits for the entire community. These efforts promote environmental responsibility and provide Lakewood residents with fresh, nutritious food options. Additionally, LEAF spreads community engagement by bringing people together around shared values of sustainability and local food systems.
Not only does LEAF provide fresh, healthy food in its farmers market, but thanks to the dedicated community, initiatives like “Adopt a Spot” allow residents to plant and maintain beautiful community gardens. These gardens help further enhance Lakewood’s charm and beauty, one flower at a time. The “Adopt a Spot” community garden program is yet another fantastic way that Lakewood residents contribute to our community’s beauty and sustainability.
Through this program, people volunteer their time to treat our home by planting, maintaining, and caring for small gardens and green spaces throughout the city. These gardens make Lakewood more beautiful to the eye and spark a handful of environmental benefits by adding more greenery to the area. This extra greenery helps clean the air, reduce heat, and provide essential habitats for pollinators and wildlife, making a positive impact on the local ecosystem. Agnes Stevenson, one of the program’s organizers, shed some light on its benefits.
“When people get involved in these community gardens, they start to feel more connected to the world around them,” Stevenson said. “It’s not just about planting flowers—it’s about building pride in our neighborhoods.”
Beyond just the benefits for the environment, the “Adopt-a-Spot” program helps bring neighbors together, highlighting the connection and community of our home. People who work in the gardens often become friends, and this shared experience of brightening the community as a team creates cooperation and alliances.
“It’s not just about growing plants; it’s about growing relationships,” Stevenson said. “Seeing a garden grow and thrive gives everyone a sense of accomplishment and strengthens our community.”
Through this campaign, residents make Lakewood a greener, more beautiful place, while also forming strong connections with each other that can last a lifetime. The “Adopt a Spot” program swiftly represents how small efforts, such as planting a flower or a tree, can create a significant impact. It’s a bold reminder that these simple acts contribute daily to making Lakewood a more sustainable and welcoming place for everyone to enjoy.
