On August 7, 1913, the Village Council authorized the purchase of a Town Hall site for the sum of $700. On October 2, 1913, the Village purchased $499 worth of lumber and hired laborers to erect a Town Hall. This structure was used until late 1967. A new municipal center was erected on the same site. It contains the administrative offices, safety-service facilities, including police and fire divisions, and a community room accommodating three hundred people.

In 1924 the Village purchased its first fire engine. This equipment was kept in a frame garage to the rear of the Town Hall until a Fire Station was constructed.

In 1948, in establishing its own post office and in order to avoid confusion with other towns of the same name, Fairview Village changed its name to Fairview Park. The Village became the City of Fairview Park in 1950 with an estimated population of 9,000.

In the mid-1950s it became evident that home rule with its greater flexibility was desirable and in November 1957, the voters elected a commission to frame a charter. The Charter for the City of Fairview Park was adopted effective January 1, 1959. The Charter called for a Mayor-Council plan designed to place responsibility for governmental policy with the City Council and administration on the Mayor.

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Fairview Park is located at 41°26′30″N, 81°51′27″W

AREA: 4.5 square miles in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

POPULATION: 17,572 (2000 Census)

LOCATION: Ten miles southwest of Cleveland Public Square.

ACCESS ROUTES: Interstates 90, 480 and 71; State Routes 10, 20 and 17.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Fairview Park is a family community with a wide variety of housing options, from starter bungalows to luxurious ranches and colonials on spacious lots overlooking the Cleveland Metroparks. 

TRANSPORTATION: Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line (NOMBL).

SHOPPING: The city's main commercial districts are on Lorain Road and Center Ridge Road. Many small businesses offering a variety of merchandise and services line these shopping areas. The new Westgate, the city's largest shopping complex, is located at West 210 Street and Center Ridge Road. The Fairview Centre, located on Lorain Road between West 215 and West 220 Streets, is anchored by Giant Eagle Supermarket and offers both shopping and dining experiences.

HEALTH CARE: Fairview Park is served by three area healthcare facilities; Fairview Hospital at 18101 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland; Lakewood Hospital at 14519 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood; and St. John West Shore Hospital, 29000 Center Ridge Road in Westlake.

SCHOOLS: Fairview Park has three public schools, Fairview High School, Lewis F. Mayer Jr. High School, and Gilles Sweet Elementary School. The city also hosts one Lutheran grade school and one Roman Catholic grade school. The Fairview Park Board of Education (440) 331-5500 is located at 21620 Mastick Road, Suite A, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126. To find more information, please visit www.fairviewparkschools.org.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS: American Baptist, Byzantine Rite Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed and Roman Catholic.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES: The city provides police, fire and paramedic services, curbside trash collection, a recycling program, and a comprehensive street repair program. 

UTILITIES: Water, gas, electricity and communication services are available from several providers. The city obtains water from the City of Cleveland, is a co-owner of the Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Facility and a user of the North Olmsted Wastewater Treatment Facility. Cable television options are provided by Cox Communications, WideOpenWest and ATT.

PARKS & RECREATION: Fairview Park has five city parks: Bohlken, Bain, Morton, Grannis and Nelson Russ. These parks provide a variety of leisure and recreational opportunities. The Recreation Department is located in the Gemini Center, the new Fairview Park Recreation & Community Complex, located at 21225 Lorain Road. The city offers four access points to the Cleveland Metroparks, a county park system that includes public golf courses, hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and a variety of other recreational activities.

LIBRARY: Fairview Park is the home of one of Cuyahoga County Public Library’s four regional branches (located at 21255 Lorain Road.) Specialties in this 44,000 square foot facility include history, genealogy, biography, geography, and travel. This regional library has 41 public access terminals; 207,000 books; 45,000 audio visual items; and 650 periodicals.

HISTORICAL PLACES: Bain Park Cabin is a local historical landmark that provides a scenic meeting place for organizations and events. It is located in Bain Park, off North Park Drive, near West 210th Street. The Fairview Park Cemetery on Lorain Road is a local landmark believed to have been a Native American burial site. It is the final resting place of pioneers and veterans dating back to pre-Civil War times.

MUSEUM: The Fairview Park Historical Society Museum is housed at Bain Park Cabin. The museum exhibits artifacts, historical memorabilia and photographs from the history of the city, as well as a file of historical documents.

DID YOU KNOW?

ABANDONED VEHICLES: Upon the failure of the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant to store an abandoned or “junk” vehicle in authorized permitted building or garage for longer than 15 days after written notice, this vehicle may be removed and impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Sections 307.02(c), (d) and (e) [C.O. Sections 1325.02(c); 1347.02(a) and 1347.02(b)(7)].

ALL NIGHT PARKING: No person shall park any motor vehicle on the streets of the city between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (C.O. 351.16). If special temporary conditions require that a vehicle be left on the street between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., call the Police Department at (440) 333-1234 and request parking permission. The dispatcher will need your name, address, phone number and description of the car and license number.

BUILDING PERMITS: A building permit must be obtained at the Building Department before excavation, upgrading, construction, alteration, repair, moving or demolition of a dwelling, commercial or accessory structure begins. Separate permits must be obtained for electrical work, plumbing work, and heating and air conditioning. The permit allows the required inspections for the owner’s assurance that all work is done properly and according to all codes. Contact the Building Department at (440) 356-4405 for further information on obtaining a permit and what permits are required (C.O. Section 1307).

CURFEW: Under 13 years of age: 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.; 13 to 15 years of age: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.; 16 to 17 years of age: 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. weekdays and 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Saturday/Sunday (C.O. Section 509.16(a).

DOGS AND CATS: Pets, such as dogs and cats, must be contained on your own property or be on a leash; they are not permitted in city parks, nor are they allowed to roam the streets. Excessive barking and howling of any animal is prohibited. Not more than two dogs, excepting puppies not over three months old, may be kept in any single dwelling (C.O. Sections 505.01, 505.02(b), 505.08 and 505.10).

MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX: Fairview Park has a 2.0% City Income Tax with a 75% credit for City tax paid to other cities with a maximum credit of 1.25%. Every resident 18 years of age or older must file an annual City Tax return plus a Declaration of Estimated Income Tax and make quarterly payments totaling at least 80% of the tax due by January 31 prior to the April 30th deadline for the filing year.

PARKING IN YARDS: It is unlawful to park a motor vehicle in your front yard (C.O. 351.21).

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: Fairview Park Codified Ordinances provide for an Exterior Property Maintenance Code and specifies the duties and responsibilities of the owner, operator or occupant of both commercial and residential properties. For more information, call the Building Department at 440-356-4405 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (C.O. Sections 1343 and 1345).

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES: Boats, campers and other recreational vehicles may not be permanently parked in city driveways. Owners may park such vehicles in backyards only after obtaining a permit from the Building Department. Owners have up to five 48-hour periods per calendar year for the purpose of loading or unloading upon approval of the Building Commissioner or for 12 hours without approval (CO Section 1117.07.)

RECYCLING: As of 1990, the city has implemented curbside pickup of recyclables. Glass, aluminum and plastic (Nos. 1 and 2) need to be placed in blue plastic recyclable bags. Newspapers are placed in brown paper bags or tied with twine.

SIGNS: Our city has a sign ordinance that regulates the height, number and size of signs within Fairview Park. An approval from the Planning & Design Commission and a permit from the Building Department must be obtained before any sign can be erected. Posting signs on telephone and other utility poles or on the public right-of-way (tree lawns) in the city is prohibited by code (C.O. Section 1145).

SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING BAN: If snow falls to a depth of two inches or more during any period of 24 hours or less within the city, an emergency parking ban is in effect. At that time, parking of vehicles on any city street is not allowed (C.O. Section 351.17).

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