Hi friends, welcome to Good Works Columbus! This week I have a few new online surveys, an action alert to protect bike lanes at the national level, and some things in case you missed it.

Things you can do in person

• Bill Moose Run Public Information Session
  Wednesday, September 2nd, 5PM-7PM
  1404 Goodale Blvd, Ste 100, Columbus, OH
  This Open House will provide the public with an opportunity to learn about the details of the Ohio State School for the Deaf and Ohio School for the Blind’s proposed bridge crossing of Bill Moose Run within a 73-acre conservation easement held by Franklin Soil and Water.

  Subjects will include:

  · History, timeline and other details of the conservation easement

  · Reasoning for proposed amendment to the conservation easement

  · Primary design of proposed crossing

  · Mitigation options being considered if crossing is permitted

  · Opportunity for public comment submittal

  *This will be an open house format. The public can participate any time between 5-7pm. Information stations will be staffed by representatives from Franklin Soil and Water, The Ohio School for the Deaf and Blind, and their design consultants.

• Transit Columbus Monthly Meeting
  Tuesday, Sept. 8th 7PM
  Columbus Main Library 96 S Grant Meeting Room 1A
  

  

  What would it take to make COTA free? That’s one of the questions Transit Columbus will dig into at its September meeting, with guest speaker Garrett Patterson breaking down COTA’s finances and what they mean for the future of transit in Columbus.

  The meeting will also cover green social housing and the Our City Our Say campaign.

• Strong Towns Bench Build
  Sunday, Sept. 20th
  480 W Town Street
  Join Strong Towns Columbus for a hands-on bench build! Volunteers will help measure and mark lumber, make cuts, and assemble benches that will be distributed across Columbus at the end of the day.
  

  No experience or tools are required. We’ll provide instruction, tools, safety equipment, and lunch. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty, and bring water.

• Scioto Sweep Annual River Cleanup 2026

  Join us Sunday, Sept. 20 to clean up the Scioto River at the annual Scioto Sweep! Thanks to Keep Columbus Beautiful, we'll have all the supplies you need, including gloves, trash bags and litter grabbers.
  

• Columbus Youth Climate Action Fund
  
  Applications will open August 10, 2026 and close October 23, 2026
  With 84 percent of youth around the world reporting that they are worried climate change threatens people and the environment, the Columbus Youth Climate Action Fund continues to support young people in leading local climate action projects. After two successful years of youth-led projects, the City of Columbus is continuing the program for a third year with almost $50,000 available to support youth groups working to address climate change and its impacts on our community.

  Microgrants of $1,000 - $5,000 will enable youth groups ages 15 - 24 to implement new projects related to one of the following program areas in our Columbus Climate Action Plan:

  • Empowering the community the “Columbus Way”: Builds or supports community collaboration, education, awareness, leadership related to climate action

  • Sustainable Neighborhoods and Environment: Supports climate resilient neighborhoods or a healthy environment

  • Buildings and Energy: Promotes renewable energy or energy efficiency in residential, commercial or community buildings

  • Transportation: Supports mode shift to bikes, scooters and public transportation or promotes zero-emission vehicles

  • Waste Reduction: Reduces waste generated or sent to the landfill

  Projects can be focused on climate mitigation (reducing pollution), climate resilience (adapting to the impacts of climate change), or climate engagement (getting people educated or involved).

Things you can do online

• Clintonville High Street Traffic Safety Survey
  Thank you for taking our survey about crash safety on High St in Clintonville! The Clintonville Area Commission and the Clintonville Rotary Club are working on an initiative called Slow Down Clintonville in response to community concerns about crashes on our streets. 

  This survey is meant to understand the community's concerns in more depth to help brainstorm solutions and advocate for improvements. Please complete the survey only once. The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

• Multimodal Transportation Safety Plan for The Ohio State University's Columbus Campus
  You are receiving this survey because Ohio State is developing a Multimodal Transportation Safety Plan for the Columbus Campus to improve safety for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Your input helps us understand how people navigate the campus area today and where safety improvements might be needed.

  By participating in this survey, you are helping shape recommendations and priorities for the plan, including potential future safety improvements on the Columbus Campus. Your input ensures the plan reflects the needs and experiences of the university community.

• Congress Must Save America's Bike Lanes
  Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy erased the data that shows bike lanes reduce crashes and don’t cause congestion. Then he asked Congress to defund all bike lanes — and even remove bike lanes from busy roads. (This would effect bike lanes on Broad St. which includes the future BRT corridor on West Broad.)
  

  Tell your elected representatives: vote NO on any transportation reauthorization bill that would restrict the ability of federal funding to be used on bike safety projects.

• Affordable Housing Alliance | Central Ohio Community Perception Survey 2026
  We know what the raw data says: housing and utility costs are rising all across the state. In fact, over 80,000 of our neighbors give half their paycheck (or more!) to the housing bill, constantly worried they are one sick day or flat tire away from losing their home.

  But how this affects our community differs significantly from family to family.

  To fix this problem, we need to hear from you! The Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio is conducting a research survey to better understand how local residents are adjusting to higher costs, what tradeoffs regular families are making in this economy, and what tools are still needed to best serve our community.

• Zone-In Columbus Feedback
  Tuesday, August 25th, the public comment period opens. Residents can complete online surveys, visit the Zone In Public Gallery, ask questions and submit feedback on the proposal.

Things I’m reading/watching:

• 1 big thing: 💰 Your first participatory budget ideas from Axios Columbus

• Beat notes: why it was important I went inside a homeless shelter from Columbus Dispatch

• Columbus mayor proposed restrictions on Flock cameras, but defends use of technology from WOSU
  

Have a great day everyone!

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