Community Spotlight on Cuyahoga Falls
It’s been a long night stretching into a longer day for Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters. A FirstEnergy power outage left part of the city without electricity. And while the outage had nothing to do with the city’s electric company, Walters knows that every problem eventually winds up on the mayor’s desk. That’s why he was on the scene.
Cuyahoga Falls is one of a handful of municipalities in the area with a city-owned electric system; it’s also connected to the larger, regional power grid. That’s the reason the city — the 15th largest in Ohio — has one of the lowest overall utility costs in the area, Walters says.
Unpretentious, Outdoorsy
With a population of just over 50,000, Cuyahoga Falls in Summit County has reinvented itself over the past decade or so. It has retained its comfortable, established-neighborhood feel while creating a dynamic, attractive downtown area that takes advantage of its bucolic setting along the tumbling Cuyahoga River.
Tidy, affordable neighborhoods. Check. Upscale condos and apartments. Check. Interesting restaurants. Check. To be sure, Northeast Ohio has a lot of communities that can boast the same things. What makes Cuyahoga Falls different is its proximity to so many amenities that make it an attractive place to live for people over 50.
The city has a variety of services that cater to older adults specifically. Senior Snow is an income qualifying, free snow removal service. Any full-time Falls resident 65 or older with no able-bodied person in the home — or an income-qualifying person with a doctor-verified disability — can apply.
The Senior Watch Program identifies needs and checks the well-being of older adults in the city. People can call in or ask a police officer to call them or visit their home on a regular basis, depending on the need.
The Quirk Cultural Center offers both athletic and leisure activities for people of all ages, with adaptive classes and special events. Aside from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, of which 3,000 acres are within the city limits, the big draw for fitness enthusiasts is The Natatorium of Cuyahoga Falls.
With 116,000 square feet of pools (4), a walking track, gym, racquetball courts, fitness equipment and classroom space, the natatorium is the year-round go-to facility for residents and others in the area.
The city also boasts 26 neighborhood parks, a golf course, and its most dominant natural feature: the Cuyahoga River, popular with kayakers, inner tube riders and fishermen.
Add to all that are reasonable property tax rates, housing that ranges from cozy downsize-appropriate options to luxurious apartments, with more construction underway, Cuyahoga Falls is attractive to people at all stages of their lives.
It’s a welcoming community, too. The city encourages block parties and makes it easy for neighborhoods to organize them. Mayor Walters has recruited Neighborhood Ambassadors who are liaisons between the city and those who live there, informing neighbors, promoting services and generally being an official “friendly face” of the city.
Everyone who buys a house in Cuyahoga Falls gets a special welcome package from the mayor’s office, stuffed with information, coupons and discounts to area restaurants and businesses.
Cuyahoga Falls is a good place for empty nesters who want to settle into a welcoming community that hits all the marks: it’s safe, convenient, vibrant and adjacent to some of Northeast Ohio’s best recreational areas.
To learn more about Cuyahoga Falls, visit cityofcf.com.
