Construction of the New Service Department Building to Begin This Year

The city has allocated an estimated $1.2 million in this year’s budget for the new facility.

Work on the city’s new service department facility at Blossom Hill is slated to begin this year. The project is expected to go out to bid soon. Mayor Jerry Hruby recently told Lakewood Patch that the city has allocated an estimated $1.2 million to fund the new service/maintenance facility.  “We have the money set aside in this budget to pay for it,” he said.  This building would replace three others used by the Service Department.  It would serve as a service garage and a storage facility for the city.  Hruby has said this building will not affect the overall master plan that’s being discussed for Blossom.

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Expansion of Highland Drive Cemetery OK’d

While the city of Brecksville plots out the future of the Blossom Park Cemetery, it’s expanding the Highland Drive Cemetery.

The Brecksville Cemetery — also known as the Highland Drive Cemetery — is getting a little bit bigger. Brecksville City Council approved a measure that will spend nearly $8,000 to create as many as 60 new gravesites at the Highland Drive Cemetery. The project is also expected to improve the cemetery’s mapping. Brecksville officials noted that the expansion at 9012 Highland Drive would give the city some time while a new cemetery at the Blossom Hill property is plotted out. Council unanimously approved the measure, accepting the $7,684 proposal from Donald G. Bohning & Associates, Inc.

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Recreation Commission Meets Tonight, Will Discuss Blossom Hill Plan

Check out our overview story for a look at the plan and for links where you can learn more.

Does South Euclid Dog’s Death Change Your Mind About a Dog Park at Blossom Hill?

Take our poll.

The Plain Dealer reports that in nearby South Euclid, a day at the dog park took a turn for the worse when a husky killed a Chihuahua. The police chief there said it was the first fatal incident since the park opened seven years ago. Check The Plain Dealer for the full story. While there's no dog park in Brecksville now, the city is looking at including one in its master plan for Blossom Hill. Does this incident change your mind about whether that would be a good idea? If you’d still like to see a dog park at Blossom Hill, are there certain safety precautions you’d want included or restrictions you’d want put in place? Tell us in the comments.

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City to Fight Stormwater Fees and Join Anti-Poaching Pact: Week in Review

Catch up on the week’s news.

Were you outside enjoying the beautiful spring weather this week? (No, it’s not summer yet, despite what the thermometer says!) If you said yes, don’t worry that you may have missed a story or two—just catch up on the big news of the week below: And speaking of this week’s fantastic weather, it’s just the first week of spring. You can add your spring photos to this post.

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City Council to Discuss Chippewa Creek, Blossom Hill Property

The committee meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the full meeting will begin at 8 p.m.

Looking for a Home Near Blossom Hill?

Check out these homes for sale in Brecksville.

The city has big plans in store for Blossom Hill, and if you’d like to live nearby, check out some of these homes for sale. All are in Brecksville and within minutes of Blossom Hill. Everybody makes mistakes ... even us! If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, give Local Editor Rachel Abbey McCafferty a ring at 440-292-7245 or shoot her an email at rachel.abbey@patch.com.

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Plans for a New Police Station, Service Department Buildings Underway

The city’s Buildings and Grounds committee will be busy this year and into the future.

The Buildings and Grounds committee has a lot of projects planned this year, said chairman Louis N. Carouse Jr. Here’s a quick look at some of those projects that the committee discussed earlier this week during its meeting at City Hall:

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Recreation Commission Discusses Plans for Blossom Hill’s Future

The community is invited to give its feedback.

The Brecksville Recreation Commission met Monday night to discuss Blossom Hill’s future. The proposal is just in its first stages, but the vision for the master plan is substantial. The main features proposed by the group of citizens appointed to create a long-term plan for the area on Oakes Road include a 25-meter pool and a large field house with room for an indoor turf, rubberized floor and a walking path. The recommendation for the field house is that it be built with “as much flexibility as possible,” said Joe Kosek, the chairman of the Blossom Hill Facility Development Advisory Board. The proposal also includes a dog park and a vegetable garden, as well as new fields, pavilions, playgrounds, and lots of parking. Mayor Jerry N. Hruby …

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Blossom Hill Plans and All-Day Kindergarten Meetings: 5 Things to Know This Week

Know of an interesting event going on this week? Add it in the comments.

Brecksville’s Recreation Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday in City Hall to begin discussing the proposed master plan for Blossom Hill. Check Brecksville Patch on Tuesday for a look at some of the ideas that are being discussed. Tuesday is Valentine’s Day! If you still need gift ideas—or just want to check out some fun features for the holiday—check out our Valentine’s Shopping Guide page. The World War II group will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Human Services Center. The meetings are open to anyone, and they offer the chance for people to socialize and to learn more about that time period. On Thursday, the elementary schools are hosting open houses for parents who want to learn more about the district’s all-day kindergarten …

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