Week 13: Welcome from the City of Oberlin

Issue #13

Welcome from the City of Oberlin

Welcome to Oberlin, Ohio!

Hello, new Obies! We’re so excited to welcome you to the City of Oberlin, and we hope you’ll take time to explore everything our town has to offer.

Oberlin’s charming, tree-lined downtown is home to many independently-owned restaurants, shops, and businesses, and we offer something for everyone. From burgers and tater tots at The Feve to amazing pizza at Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, authentic Chinese cuisine at Bingo Chinese Restaurant, locally sourced ingredients at 1833, expertly crafted coffee and tea at Slow Train Café, mouth-watering treats at Blue Rooster Bakehouse, restaurants featuring delicious Korean, Mexican, Lebanese, and Thai cuisine, and much, much more, Oberlin’s restaurant scene is sure to please everyone’s palette.

Our many shops and businesses offer everything from everyday essentials and unique collectibles to a variety of services. Stock up on necessities and household goods at Ben Franklin and Watson’s Hardware, snag some vintage fashion at All Things Great, find unique gifts at Ratsy’s Store, drop into a yoga class at Solaluna, or get pampered at Adeva Salon & Spa. While exploring downtown, don’t miss out on unique gallery shows and art classes at the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), learn how to make stained glass pieces at Vérité Glass, take music lessons at the Woodshed, or catch a movie at the Apollo Theatre. In downtown Oberlin, you’ll find all this and banks, doctors, dentists, lawyers, salons, barbershops, photography studios, and more.

You’ll find our community very walkable and bicycle friendly. For times when you’d rather not walk or bike, however, be sure to take advantage of the Oberlin Connector. This dial-a-ride public transportation option is available Monday through Friday for trips anywhere in Oberlin and throughout Lorain County. Oberlin College students receive discounted rates with a valid ID—just $1.00 for a one-way trip!

The Oberlin Police Department offers a range of community services, including free bicycle licenses and a self-serve dropbox for the responsible disposal of unneeded medications. The police department is also a Transaction Safety Zone—a safe environment to transfer goods from e-commerce sites like Facebook Marketplace.

Downtown Oberlin is also home to Oberlin City Hall and “Old City Hall. You can read about our city government structure here. Oberlin students can take advantage of environmental sustainability programs such as an EV Car Share program and a new composting program. You can also participate in drop-off recycling programs for plastic ring beverage carriers, CFL/LED bulbs, oral care products, and metal lids. Read more about our sustainability efforts at the Office of Sustainability.

During your downtime, we hope you’ll enjoy the City of Oberlin’s many parks and recreational opportunities. Start a pick-up basketball game in Park Street Park, grab some carry-out and have a picnic in the East College Street Courtyard, or reflect on Oberlin’s rich history at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, which features monuments commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858, John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, and the Tuskegee Airmen. The city also has a large Recreation Complex with lighted baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, and playground and picnic areas. It connects to the Don J. Pease Memorial Bike Path, part of the North Coast Inland Trail, and cuts diagonally through the city. The Oberlin Recreation Department also puts on a variety of programs and events for the community, including adult sports leagues and annual events like the Earth Day 5K, Summer Concerts, Family Fun Nights, Independence Day Fireworks, Outdoor Basketball Festival, and holiday festivities.

The Oberlin community has much to offer, and we’re excited for you to experience it all! We invite you to follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep updated on all things Oberlin. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!  info@cityofoberlin.com or www.CityofOberlin.com