north olmsted
Back to Community
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North Olmsted welcomes the return of safe gatherings, events and activities that bring us together again. By Kristen Hampshire
athering is what community is all about — parades, celebrations, family-fun days and simply going to the recreation center and running into familiar faces. While the city had to pull back during the pandemic, residents and businesses found creative ways to connect. “We did smaller monthly activities, such as screenings during heart month and yoga in the park,” says Betsy Drenski, recreation commissioner. While cautious in early 2021, this year introduced a promising and safe return to some of North Olmsted’s favorite events and activities. Summer camps were also in session, and Drenski says, “We had a waiting list of people who wanted to come back.” A silver lining of managing a challenging year? A renewed focus on getting outdoors, working together and enjoying the best that North Olmsted has to offer. It’s back to the community — and here are some ways the city is embracing its green assets, engaging residents and igniting pride and a renewed sense of belonging.
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Ice slushy truck. And the city is following up on last year’s premiere Trek at the Rec drive-through trick-or-treat event, where participants like the swim team, Chick-Fil-A, North Olmsted Arts Commission and others handed out candy and goodies to guests who wheeled through, caravan-style. “You could drive through with your family, and each stop handed out candy,” Drenski says, adding that festive decor along the course created a parade atmosphere. Last year, the weather didn’t cooperate, but Trek at the Rec is scheduled to take place Oct. 29 this year. Why Trek at the Rec? “It’s a journey — a drive,” Drenski relates.
Good, Old Times Old-time experiences come to life at Olmsted Historical Society’s Frostville Museum, a living history of 19th century Ohio in the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. The motto is “preserving the past for present and future generations,” and houses on the site were moved from vari-
ous parts of North Olmsted to create a quaint, museum village. Some, such as the Carpenter House, were gifts from local families. Generally, Frostville is actively programmed with special events, and after a quieter year during the pandemic, the calendar is once again filling up with safe, outdoor and indoor options, including the ability to reserve the chapel for weddings. In fact, the historical society’s president, Cynthia Lentz, says that’s one aspect of her job she loves the most. “There’s nothing better than seeing a couple start out
Pumpkinville
COURTESY BIKE BASH: KEN SRAIL / PIONEER DAYS: OLMSTED HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Activities for All Ages In 2021, North Olmsted’s Parks and Recreation department led the effort to bring back and expand Summer in the City, which began as a concert series hosted by the Arts Commission. The reimagined series included several smaller events for safer gathering, such as yoga in the park, Westside Flea, movies in the park, live music, the new Big Bike Bash and the Homecoming Parade as the grand finale. The new bike event was born from the pandemic rush to buy bicycles as a way to get outdoors and enjoy some active fun. “I went to buy my daughter a bike last year, and they were sold out,” Drenski relates. “We know lots of bikes were bought last year, and there are more bikes out there — and we have a path here in North Olmsted, so we created a cool obstacle course for kids and adults.” The Big Bike Bash is a new tradition that included a DJ and the Kona
Big Bike Bash
