North Coast inmates caring for new community landscaping

Inmate volunteers at the North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility in northeastern Ohio will soon be busy maintaining a newly-landscaped area along State Road 57, at no cost to the nearby community of Elyria.

Mayor William Grace says Elyria officials were forced to search for landscaping assistance due to a lack of funds. The new landscaping was added earlier this year along the recently repaved route.

The city invested about $42,000 on the landscaping, although the total cost was more than a half million dollars. The majority of the costs were paid through state and federal funds. North Coast CTF authorities signed a contract with the city to begin the inmate work early next year.

Six inmates will be assigned to cut grass, trim weeds and care for the plants, shrubs and trees that were planted, Mayor Grace said. Under the landscape company’s contract, any plants that don't survive at least one year will be replaced at no cost to the city.

Another grant for approximately $50,000, obtained through the local Ohio solid waste district, will pay for industrial lawn mowers, weed trimmers and other equipment the inmates will use exclusively on this property, Grace said.

The correctional facility has provided similar services to the city in the past. Mayor Grace added, "They've done an excellent job. We very much appreciate their service."

(11/30/09)

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