Special Section: Hometown Story

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10 Things to Know About Our Town

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Hometown Story

SEPTEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Things to t Know Abou n our Tow

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Small-town feel and big benefits come together in our city, where “community” is defined by a friendly wave, cheerful laugh and unwavering support during trying times. As the only Central Ohio community twice-named “Best Hometown”

by Ohio Magazine, Grove City brings the sweet charm of neighborhood living together with remarkable amenities.

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Treasuring Town Center Together.

Grove City’s Town Center is a lively, historical district where visitors take in casual nightlife, local dining, distinctive shops and exciting events. A community treasure, Town Center boasts modern amenities magnificently blended with restored and revitalized buildings.

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Enriching Education Together. The South-Western City School District and three private school options provide innovative educational programs.

We are also home to the South-Western Career Academy, which provides careertechnical education.

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Exploring Together. Enjoy nearly 1,000 acres of parkland, including three destination parks, a family water

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Where together, we have it all. park, summer splash pad and a skate park—connected by more than 26 miles of paved multiuse paths. Grove City is home to the Scioto Grove Metro Park, beautifully bordered by four winding miles of the Scioto River.

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Playing Together. We are a community of inclusion, with play opportunities for all ages and abilities.

Most notable is our Buddy Ball program at Windsor Park’s Mirolo Dream Field at Mount Carmel Stadium—an amazing facility with a rubberized surface accommodating all assisted devices.

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Working Together. As the Southwest Gateway to Central Ohio, Grove City is the only Central Ohio community with four interstate access points and countless businesses providing employment to more than 25,000 associates, including Mount Carmel and OhioHealth hospitals.

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Celebrating Together. We host multiple must-attend annual celebrations such as EcoFest, sharing ways to keep people and the environment healthy; Arts in the Alley, featuring the works of

more than 100 artists; and the Heart of Grove City Wine and Arts Festival.

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Honoring Veterans and First Responders Together. With an ongoing mission to never forget the men and women who protect us, we proudly display our gratitude through several celebrations and destinations, including our Purple Heart Memorial Walk, Gold Star Families Memorial Park and the 9/11 Memorial, among many others.

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At Home Together. With the conveniences of metropolitan living and our well-recognized, small-town charm, Grove City offers a wealth of housing options for everyone from millennials to seniors, including deluxe estate living, multifamily units and assisted living facilities.

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Stronger Together. The strength and success of our community lies in our residents. We are a network of caring individuals, here for each other in times of need and always willing to get involved. Grove City boasts a vibrant quality of life with deep-rooted traditions, where more than 93 percent of our surveyed residents report Grove City is a “good” or “excellent” place to call home.

photos: courtesy grove city

Grove City

We have it all.

Our unique blend of history and progress sets us apart.

614.277.3000 GroveCityOhio.gov @GroveCityOhio

See why, as the Southwest Gateway to Central Ohio, Grove City was twice-named “Best Hometown” by Ohio Magazine.

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Groveport’s past, present and future intertwine with shipping, transportation, industry and agriculture. The Ohio and Erie Canal made the town a port and put it on the path to prosperity. Groveport started as a single entity in 1847, when the neighboring rival towns of Wert’s Grove and Rarey’s Port merged. Groveport was home to John Rarey, the original horse whisperer, known for his horse training techniques and taming a fiercely wild horse named Cruiser.

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Groveport has several family-oriented festivals and events. The Groveport Farmer’s Market takes place every Tuesday from May to September. The 4th of July Celebration features a parade, entertainment, food, children’s activities and fireworks. KidsFest, in August, offers children’s activities and the always-popular Touch-a-Truck. On the second Saturday in October, enjoy fresh apple butter, along with homemade food and artisan wares, at Apple Butter Day. Santa and Mrs. Claus host A Heritage Holiday on the first Friday in December. This two-day event includes a tree-lighting ceremony, horse-drawn wagon rides and live reindeer.

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With more than 25 million square feet of industrial space currently

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Explore “Central Ohio’s Hometown”—a growing suburb with a rich history. under roof throughout five industrial parks, Groveport is a distribution hub for a variety of well-known companies like Eddie Bauer, Kraft Foods, Build-A-Bear Workshops and many more.

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Recently named as having the most parkland per capita in Central Ohio, Groveport is home to nine beautiful parks. Their amenities include the historic Erie Canal’s Lock 22, numerous sports fields, lighted tennis courts, a large stocked pond and several miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths.

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Groveport’s Recreation Center is a 67,000-square-foot facility offering state-of-the-art equipment, fitness classes, an indoor climbing wall, a heated indoor pool, an indoor track, indoor basketball courts, outdoor paved leisure paths and the Groveport Senior Center. Next door is the Groveport Aquatics Center, one of the top outdoor community water parks in Central Ohio.

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Motts Military Museum was founded in 1987 by Warren E. Motts of Groveport, who established the museum as a nonprofit educational organization.

The museum showcases military vehicles,

aircrafts, a Higgins Boat from World War II and many artifacts.

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The Links at Groveport is an 18-hole, par-72 course, owned and operated by the City of Groveport. Located in the clubhouse, the Paddock Pub & Links Event Center offers casual dining and a banquet room that accommodates groups up to 250 for weddings, corporate meetings, special events and golf outings.

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Groveport’s Main Street business district offers prime sites for commercial and retail development. Opportunities abound for restaurants, retail shops and offices.

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Groveport’s Community Affairs Department offers programs for all ages at Town Hall and Crooked Alley KidSpace. Featured at Town Hall is a variety of art and the Heritage Museum, showcasing Groveport’s history.

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Groveport operates its own transit system. With three routes serving Groveport and the Village of Obetz, Groveport Rickenbacker Employee Access Transit (GREAT) provides vital last-mile, door-to-door service to companies in several Rickenbacker-area industrial parks.

photos: courtesy groveport

Groveport

Discover the One & Only- Groveport.

One of a Kind.

We’re a small city with an amazing quality of life for our residents that includes a modern 67,000 square foot recreation center, outdoor aquatic park, 18-hole municipal golf course and more park space per capita than any community in central Ohio. We offer a pro-business environment that encourages small business development. Our population more than doubles in size every day.

Discover all the reasons why Groveport is “Central Ohio’s Hometown” for families and for businesses small and large.

Call us at 614-836-5301 and ask for a free market analysis or

check us out online.

www.groveport.org

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We are home. We are family. We are business.

Hilliard: Real people creating real possibilities.

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Hilliard is home. Hilliard carefully balances residential growth with intelligently managed commercial development, making it an attractive place to live, learn, work and play. The city was recognized as one of realtor.com’s Top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes in 2017 and gobankingrates.com’s fastest-growing community in Ohio in 2019.

Hilliard is safe. Hilliard’s Division of Police and partnership with Norwich Township Fire Department ensure this community is incredibly safe. Our community’s violent crime rate is among the lowest in Central Ohio, and the average time for Hilliard police to start response to a 911 call in 2018 was just 90 seconds.

hood, Old Hilliard, boasts some of our most exciting new businesses, including Crooked Can Brewery and the trendy Center Street Market, both opening this fall. And Weaver Park preserves Hilliard’s past, with a Historical Village, museum, church, log cabin, one-room schoolhouse, train depot and more.

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Hilliard is healthy. With 27 diverse municipal parks, a Metro Park, multipurpose trails, wooded natural areas, active athletic facilities and two outdoor aquatics facilities, Hilliard promotes healthy lifestyles and diverse family recreational opportunities through its investment in recreation and green spaces.

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Hilliard is business. Hilliard has a vibrant business climate. Nearly 1,300 businesses call Hilliard home, and our median household income is more than $93,000 per year.

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Hilliard is fun. From our July 4 Freedom Fest to our weekly Celebration at the Station summer concerts, and from the Franklin County Fair to Food Truck Thursdays, there’s always exciting family fun in Hilliard!

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Hilliard is the future. Our convenient location, resources and business-friendly climate are reasons Hilliard has become home to future-focused industries, corporate offices, advanced manufacturing and high-tech companies.

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Hilliard is education. The district’s vision is to prepare students to be “Ready for Tomorrow,” through purposeful actions and in the classroom.

Hilliard Schools are preparing the next generation of American citizens to prosper and thrive in the ever-changing world.

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Hilliard is happening. Hilliard looks to the future while celebrating the past. The community’s first neighbor-

Hilliard is reverent. Hilliard’s First Responders Park pays tribute to those who died on 9/11, as well as other first responders who have given their lives to protect others. Our Safety Services Building also proudly displays one of five flag poles that stood outside the World Trade Center.

Hilliard is “Real People. Real Possibilities.” Hilliard is a community of real people creating real possibilities for the future. These four words convey our belief that every resident, visitor and person working in our community is a valued part of Hilliard’s fabric—an individual with families, dreams, goals and priorities.

photos: courtesy hilliard

Hilliard

Real People.

Real Possibilities.

These four simple words are more than the City of Hilliard’s motto.

They are a promise.

They celebrate the ideal that we embrace every resident, visitor, and person working in our community as a valued part of Hilliard’s fabric — an individual with families, dreams, goals, and priorities.

Hilliard enjoys the kind of quality of life and business-friendly environment that make it a community of choice for living, working, learning, and playing.

We are Hilliard, a growing, welcoming community that combines the best of hometown America with dynamic opportunities.

Follow us at @HilliardGov hilliardohio.gov

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New Albany is a friendly place, built on the strongest traditions of small-town America, that embraces a strategic approach to land use and a high quality of life based on our founding pillars of life-long learning, culture, health and the environment. That’s why 24/7 Wall Street recently ranked us as one of the best places to live in America.

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Our New Albany-Plain Local School District, rated in the top 3 percent of all public schools in Ohio, is located on one 200-acre campus surrounded by the Swickard Woods wetlands preservation, which intertwines our environmental and educational commitments.

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Our pedestrian-friendly Village Center, the town’s centralized gathering spot, includes restaurants, coffee houses, boutique shops, a summer farmers market, the library, the New Albany-Plain Local school learning campus, Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany and diverse housing that includes luxury apartments designed for millennials and empty-nesters.

Next year, Rose Run Park will open in the heart of the Village Center, connecting

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Community connects us here in New Albany.

people to nature, each other and all that our core has to offer.

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In their own words, residents praise New Albany as safe, beautiful, convenient and well-maintained with a small-town feel, strong sense of community, quality schools, friendly people and lots of trails for walking and running.

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We are an active community with lots of land for recreational pursuits.

Counting Rocky Fork Metro Park, nearly 20 percent of New Albany’s land use is devoted to parkland and open space.

There are 45 miles of leisure trails, and nearly every neighborhood is within 1/4 mile of a park.

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The New Albany International Business Park is the largest master planned commercial park in the Midwest with four highway interchanges, 5,000 acres, 15,500 employees, nearly 11 million square feet of space and $4.5 billion in private investment.

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Innovate New Albany, our technology incubator for start-ups, has lived up to its name by continuously evolving the

services and resources it provides to entrepreneurial enterprises. Innovate’s entrepreneurial TIGER Talks attract more than 1,500 people annually.

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The New Albany Community Foundation’s Jefferson Series is one of the best lecture series in the United States.

New Albany plays host to some of Central Ohio’s best events, including Pelotonia, the Project Hero Honor Ride Ohio cycling event on Memorial Day benefitting our veterans, the A&F Challenge at Abercrombie & Fitch’s corporate headquarters, the New Albany Walking Classic (the largest walking race in America), and the ThanksForGiving Thanksgiving Day run, which boasts 3,000 participants and raises more than $100,000 for local charities.

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New Albany staff are committed to a high level of professionalism and customer service with an attention to detail. When surveyed, 99 percent of residents feel safe in New Albany, 96 percent view New Albany as vibrant and attractive, 95 percent are satisfied with snow removal and 90 percent are satisfied with management of architectural standards.

photos: courtesy new albany

New Albany

COMMUNITY. WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, G R E AT T H I N G S H A P P E N .

As partners in a master-planned community, New Albany collaborates with our residents and businesses to create a shared vision for the future that brings people together to do more than just live or work. It’s a friendly, inclusive community that makes you feel at home, encourages a healthy, active lifestyle, nurtures the creative spirit, invests in lifelong learning, supports business and protects the environment for future generations. It’s more than a place, it’s a way of life.

newalbanyohio.org

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For work. For play. For everyone.

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Obetz is a safe, quiet community of 4,967 residents. Our population swells to more than 20,000 daily because of the more than 350 businesses that call Obetz home.

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Obetz—on I-270 and next to the Rickenbacker International Airport—is a prime location for e-commerce and manufacturing facilities. Our Fortune 500 resident companies include Amazon, Cardinal Health, Federal Express, United Parcel Services and AmerisourceBergen.

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Recently, Obetz has invested more than $25 million in parks and recreational facilities. In 2019, Obetz will continue investing in the quality of the lives of its residents.

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With many vibrant neighborhoods, Obetz’ housing market is one of the hottest in Central Ohio. Buyers can build new or invest in a historic home. Sales prices for homes are up 8.4 percent from last year.

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You can “Play Obetz” at one of our many events, including the Famous Fortress Fireworks, Halloween Haunt-

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ed Trail, Christmas Kick-Off or the Zucchinifest. Averaging 250,000 visitors, the Zucchinifest is one of the largest festivals in Ohio. Held Labor Day weekend, Zucchinifest features national and local entertainment, rides, arts and crafts vendors, and zucchini-inspired food.

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With more than 300 acres of parkland in 10 municipal parks, there is something for everyone. Play a round of disc golf at Area 51, connect with nature on a hike at Braehead Preserve, get wet at the Splash Pad located in Lancaster Park, ice skate at the outdoor ice rink or sharpen your archery skills at the Dixon Quarry archery range.

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Obetz offers many facilities for weddings and other gatherings. The Dixon Quarry Pavilion is a rustic building overlooking a 6-acre lake; the Obetz Conference Center can accommodate up to 200 people; and, coming soon, Fortress Obetz will begin offering limited rentals.

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The award-winning Fortress Obetz, Central Ohio’s newest sports and entertainment venue, was built in 2017 using 122 shipping containers, making it the largest shipping container structure

in the United States. Notable events at Fortress Obetz include Braxton Miller’s third annual Charg1ng Camp; OHSAA state, regional and championship games; Shootout for Soldiers; Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Showcase; Fashion Meets Music Festival; and the Greene Speed Academy— Speed & Agility Camp.

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In 2019, Obetz was named one of the Top Places to Work in Central Ohio.

The Hamilton Local School District, located in Obetz, has consistently been ranked one of the top school districts in Franklin County and has been nationally recognized as a Blue-Ribbon School. The Groveport Madison Local School District recently invested millions of dollars in new infrastructure and opened a new high school in 2018.

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With the recent addition of an OhioHealth medical facility, the Alum Creek Drive corridor is positioned for retail growth. Approximately 400,000 square feet of new retail and office space is planned to add additional shopping opportunities to our fast-growing town. Whether it is for a game, a walk or just to enjoy the outdoors, stop by and visit us here in Obetz.

photos: courtesy obetz

Obetz

For Everyone

FREE

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A city within a park: With more than 40 parks, 650 acres of parkland and 50 miles of recreational trails, there’s something for everyone in Westerville parks.

It’s a four-time national gold medal winner, so the experts agree. Westerville parks are a big reason it regularly earns “best of” nods. Most recently, Westerville was voted best familyfriendly suburb (Columbus Parent, 2019).

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History that changed the U.S. Constitution: Westerville was once known as the “Dry Capital of the World;” the epicenter of Prohibition in the 1920s. The Anti-Saloon League established its headquarters in Westerville to eradicate alcohol nationwide. It wasn’t until the end of the 20th century when the first beer was poured in Uptown. Today, Westerville has a museum (Westerville Public Library) and new art installation at City Hall to recognize its place in history.

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Authentic Uptown: Not many communities preserved their historic downtowns and successfully transitioned to new-generation dining, shopping and entertainment. If you haven’t been to Uptown lately, come back to experience the charm of more than 40 shops and boutiques, nine dining establishments and more.

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Discover Westerville’s charm, spirit and style

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Celebrating “Smart”: In 2019, Westerville was one of seven communities across the globe to be named an “Intelligent Community.” The designation represents Westerville’s strides in broadband, workforce, digital equality and more. Westerville is also home to the nation’s only municipal-owned and -managed data center.

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Public power and water: Unlike most suburban communities, Westerville owns and manages electric and water utilities. In addition to strong reliability, the city provides among the most affordable water and power costs in Central Ohio.

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Otterbein is the “gown” to its “town”: Home to the private liberal arts university since 1847, more than 3,000 students live in Westerville to further their academic pursuits. Otterbein students, faculty and staff are integrated into the community, helping enrich the lives of others.

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Business is booming: This is part of the investment made 20 years ago to annex land and connect Westerville to Polaris Parkway. The area is a major jobs center known as “Westar,” home to a new

hotel and conference center and corporate headquarters, including the North American headquarters of DHL.

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A place for all: Westerville is enriched by the cultural, ethnic and social diversity of the people who live, work and play here. It’s a place that’s attractive to people of all ages. Westerville is charitable, encourages advocacy and checks on its neighbors. In Westerville, kindness is always cool.

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Keeping promises: The City of Westerville is focused on delivering exemplary services—these exact words are in its mission statement. One way this is being done? Earning the (best available) AAA credit rating from the major credit agencies for more than a decade.

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More than a suburb: Westerville’s location is as hot as they come, with a 20-minute commute to Downtown, 15-minute ride to the airport and convenient access to the beltway. The city decided long ago it would not become a bedroom community. Today, it’s a full-service city embracing opportunities to grow, welcoming new business and residents, and attracting people to world-class events.

photos: courtesy westerville

Westerville

AUTHENTIC

Charm.

Westerville is genuine from its rich heritage to its modern day amenities. Uptown is alive with culture, commerce and history.

PURPOSEFUL

Spirit.

We’re generating new investment and staying ahead of the curve with projects and partnerships in technology.

KEEPING

Quality of life is what matters most to you.

It’s all available in Westerville.

We Invite you to Discover Westerville Learn more at www.westerville.org

Promises.