May 19, 2025

Good Works Columbus: May 19, 2025

Hi gang! Welcome to Good Works Columbus, a newsletter featuring tiny actions you can take to make our city a better place.

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Things you can do in person

• Save basic, stable funding for our libraries.
  The Ohio legislature is currently putting together the state’s budget for the next two years. The Ohio House proposed eliminating the funding source for the Public Library Fund that’s been in place for decades. Instead, they want to replace it with a less predictable and unstable line-item. The basic funding provided through the Public Library Fund helps us provide the books, programs and services you love. Help keep our libraries strong!
  
  How Can You Help?

  1. Visit your favorite Columbus Metropolitan Library location.
     

  2. Look for the Protect the Public Library Fund sign or ask a staff member.
     

  3. Grab a postcard at the table and tell the Ohio Senate to “Protect the Public Library Fund” in the budget!
     

  4. Write a message or draw a picture to show Senate President Rob McColley what the library means to you.​

  No need to mail it! We’ll have a box to drop them in or you can give it to a staff member.
  
  All postcards will be delivered to Ohio Senate President Rob McColley in early June.

• Columbus Parks and Recreation 10-year plan
  In-Person Meetings
  

  

  
  Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is developing its next 10-year Vision Plan: Playbook Columbus. Members of the community are invited to attend a neighborhood meeting in May to learn more about the Vision Plan. At each meeting, the project team will share the plan’s proposed goals and Big Moves for the future. These were developed based on data analysis and public input from over 6,200 stakeholders since last summer. You can provide feedback on the recommended goals, Big Moves, strategies, and improvements by attending a neighborhood meeting. The meetings are in an open-house format, and you can come anytime.

• Volunteer with DSACO
  The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO) is urgently seeking volunteers for this year's iCan Bike Camp taking place June 2 - 6 at West Jefferson High School.
  
  2025 iCan Bike Camp Volunteer Registration

  Camp Information:

  June 2 - June 6, 2025, West Jefferson High School

  We are pleased to offer this bike program to people with disabilities and look forward to having you play an important role in helping our riders learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle independently.
  

Things you can do online

• Franklin County Public Needs Survey
  Franklin County, Ohio is in the process of preparing the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, 2025 Annual Action Plan, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. (This is a good chance to provide feedback on affordable and social housing!) The Consolidated Plan governs the activities to be funded with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) dollars for the next five years. Franklin County receives an annual allocation of CDBG, HOME, and ESG dollars as a qualified entitlement community and these funds are used to meet priority housing and community development needs in the community. The Consolidated Plan will serve as a blueprint for the expenditures of federal funds in the County from April 1, 2025, through March 30, 2031.
  

  Franklin County Survey

• Access Ohio 2050 Transportation Survey
  Access Ohio 2050 is the Ohio's long-range, multi-modal transportation plan, developed by the Ohio Department of Transportation, that will guide the state’s transportation policies and investments for the next 25 years.
  
  Complete the survey and share your support for expanding passenger rail and multimodal transportation across Ohio. Your feedback will help guide the state’s transportation priorities. Shout out to All Aboard Ohio for their work promoting this and encouraging expansion of multimodal transportation.

• West Case Branch Community Input
  Columbus Public Library is adding a new library at the old OSU sheep farm in NW Columbus and is seeking public feedback in an online survey.

Other Stuff

FLOW is seeking Central Ohio artists to turn this Olentangy Trail water pump station into public art! 

Download the submission form HERE. Application deadline June 6, 2025

Have a great day everyone and see you next week!

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