Why Green, Ohio was Voted 16th Best City for Raising a Family

Green, Ohio was voted the 16^th best place in the United States to raise a family. How exactly did the small city get such recognition? As a resident and as a proud parent in Green, I believe it is a combination of the city's stellar school system, the top notch teachers who work in said school system, the expansive parks and their programs, the central location of the city, and the city's low crime rate.

Green, Ohio was incorporated as a municipality in 1991. Before it was incorporated, the area was comprised of small unincorporated areas such as East Liberty and Greensburg. Residents fought for incorporation to prevent other areas from annexing the township. Just within the last two years, Green got its own zip code and mailing address and it still does not have its own police department. While many residents are hopeful Green will indeed get its own police department in the future, the city currently contracts with the Summit County Sheriff's Office for its police needs.

The Green Local School district is comprised of The Greenwood Early Learning Center, Green Primary School, Kleckner Elementary School, Green Intermediate School, Green Middle School, and Green High School. The district's report card rates the school system as excellent in terms of academic success. For a more detailed review of the district's report card, visit the Ohio Department of Education's website Report Card for Green Local at https://webapp2.ode.state.oh.us/reportcard/archives/RC_IRN.ASP?irn=050013.

• Greenwood Early Learning Center houses the preschool and kindergarten. The building is located all on one floor and has two halls. The first hall is for kindergartners and the second hall is for preschoolers. The typical preschool classroom averages 14 students and the typical kindergarten classroom averages 22 students. The preschool program is integrated, meaning it offers classes to typically developing children as well as children with learning disabilities.
• Green Primary School houses the first and second grades and is a newer building, having just opened for students in 2006. It is located next door to Greenwood Early Learning Center is built in the shape of the Pentagon. It truly is a beautiful building.
• Kleckner Elementary School houses the third and fourth grades. Forty-two teachers fill the building and classes average around 24 students. The building is located on Greensburg Road in Canton.
• The Green Intermediate School and the Green Middle School are located side by side on Steese Road in Uniontown and house the fifth grade through the eighth grade. Both share a football stadium and baseball fields for playing.
• Green High School houses grades nine through twelve and is located on Boettler Road in Uniontown. The school is newer and the gymnasium has an orchestra pit for school plays. A road that goes through the high school parking lot joins the high school back grounds and the Intermediate School and Middle School backgrounds.

All schools in the district cater to gifted children. The district not only identifies gifted students as is Ohio law, but they provide services to those students, which is not required by state law.

The city of Green, Ohio also has numerous parks of various sizes and uses. The most popular of the parks are:

• Boettler Park, a 62.5 acre park that hosts most of the city's youth sports such as tennis, soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. The park contains a 1.5 mile paved walking path and a stocked pond for fishers of all ages. The park also houses the historic 1885 Lichtenwalter one room schoolhouse and a 30,000 sq ft playground outfitted with pavilions. Boettler Park is home to fishing contests, Easter egg hunts, community Halloween parties, and sleigh rides with Santa.
• East Liberty Park is the city's newest park. It is 66 acres and consists of a multi-purpose playing field, numerous basketball courts, winding hiking trails, and a giant playground.
• Greensburg Park is a 28 acre park that is home to the Green Baseball and Softball Federation as well as the Green Soccer Association, Green Lacrosse Club and other great youth sporting groups.
• The Southgate Park is 205 acres and abuts Boettler Park. The park has been left in its natural state to allow for abundant education opportunities about its forestland, wetlands, stocked ponds, and variety of rare and endangered plant species.

For more information about Green's parks, visit the city's web page at http://www.cityofgreen.org/.

Location, location, location

The city of Green is located in Summit County almost exactly between Akron and Canton. Interstate 77 runs right through the city and it provides easy access to three different shopping malls, to The Football Hall of Fame, to The Akron-Canton Airport, and to FedEx Custom Critical, a large supplier of jobs. A resident feels apart from the hustle and bustle of busy city life while still being within a short drive of city attractions.

What Crime Rate?

Crime in Green, Ohio is relatively unheard of. That is one of the reasons why residents are having difficulty getting approval for their own police department. However, the city is growing at a constant rate which means more people and more traffic. Crime is inevitable, and Green is no exception. In comparison with other cities in Ohio, the crime rate of Green is enviable.

The Verdict is In

I am a firm believer that the city of Green is indeed one of the best places in the United States in which to raise a family. I will stay in Green as long as possible and watch my children develop into independent and strong individuals in a safe environment.