SitemapA grassroots organization is welcoming any and all community support in preparation for new businesses and heightened traffic in the Cornersburg neighborhood in Youngstown.
Michelle Naymick is the organizer of the Cornersburg Beautification Initiative.
“Cornersburg is the one place where Austintown, Boardman, Canfield and Youngstown all meet, which makes it everyone’s corner and no one’s responsibility,” she said. “After noticing for a long time that the area wasn’t looking its best, I decided this summer that instead of waiting for someone else to solve the problem, I’d dive in.”
In mid-August, Naymick started a Facebook group and began connecting with businesses and property owners along the corridor.
The first cleanup for Cornersburg Beautification Initiative was on Aug. 29-30 along the plazas at Canfield and Meridian Roads.
“We started simple: brooms, leaf blowers and hands. The response told us people were ready,” she said. “Since then we’ve held two cleanup days, secured donated power washing at two plazas with another coming soon, opened talks with two greenhouses on seasonal commercial planters and grown a strong Facebook community.”
The next cleanup is scheduled for Oct. 18 with an additional November date likely to be announced, according to Naymick.
“The timing matters: Sheetz is expected to open in Cornersburg in spring 2027, bringing new traffic and new eyes to the corridor. We want the neighborhood ready to make a good first impression,” Naymick said.
The Cornersburg Beautification Initiative partners with councilman Pat Kelly and Sara Daugherty at the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.
To read the full article from Mahoning Matters, click here.