Message from the Mayor

In a city like Bexley—fully built out, deeply rooted, and rich with tradition—“building community” doesn’t always mean building something new from scratch. More often, it means strengthening what we have, investing carefully, and turning long-term plans into visible results.

2025 was a year of execution.

Over the past several years, we’ve adopted major planning frameworks in the form of a refreshed Land Use Strategy and an ambitious Strategic Plan with 65 goals guiding our work. We know that a plan is only as good as its tangible results, and this was another year where big plans moved from paper to progress.

We broke ground on the long-awaited skate park and the pedestrian and cyclist bridge at Schneider Park. We advanced design work on a permanent Senior Center that will serve generations to come. We unified planning for Commonwealth Park and expanded public art and placemaking efforts across the city. These projects aren’t isolated improvements—they’re generational investments in places where people gather, play, and connect.

At the same time, we continued investing in the fundamentals. We installed publicly accessible AEDs to enhance emergency response. The Police Department is nearing CALEA accreditation, reflecting a multi-year commitment to excellence and accountability. Through “Slow Down Bexley,” we launched a citywide effort to prioritize safety on our streets. And behind the scenes, we replaced water lines, added sidewalks, planted trees, and paved roads—work that rarely makes headlines but sustains the quality of life we all value.

Financially, the City remains disciplined and forward-looking. Strong revenues allowed us to reinvest in infrastructure, sustainability initiatives like solar carports at the Police Station, and enhanced services, including budgeting for a new Social Services Coordinator role. We also continue leveraging partnerships—with the Bexley Community Foundation, state agencies, and regional partners—to stretch local dollars further and bring projects to life. In fact, nearly every major project this year leveraged outside funding, making your taxpayer dollars go so much further.

Perhaps most importantly, none of this happens alone. More than 100 residents serve on City boards, commissions, and committees—volunteering their time and expertise to guide Bexley’s future.

Community doesn’t happen by accident. It is designed, funded, maintained, and nurtured. In 2025, we built—carefully, responsibly, and with an eye toward the next generation. Thank you for being part of that work.

- Mayor Ben