“Moving to Beachwood was like hitting the lottery,” Lynn Johnson said of her family’s relocation to the eastern suburb from the east coast in 2011. She and her husband chose the six-square-mile city of Beachwood from a long list of Cleveland suburbs due to housing options, proximity to business, shopping and dining, and an award-winning school district. 

“It’s a wonderful place to raise a family,” Johnson beamed.  “The schools are just excellent.”

The city park features 1.6 miles of multi-purpose trails, and the $5 million Family Aquatic Center supports active lifestyles from senior citizens to preschoolers.  In addition, Beachwood’s robust summer camp programs are so popular, they sell out every year, with nonresident parents often getting in line for registration before sunrise to ensure a spot for their children.

“Kidz Camp is a magical place where adorable art projects, engaging science experiments, yoga, sports, swimming lessons, special events and field trips delighted our kids each day,” parent Lauren Freiman shared.  “The worst part about Beachwood Kidz Camp is that it comes to an end,” added her husband Mark.  “It is truly a gift for Beachwood residents and a point of pride for this community,” Freiman added.

Some 5,500 families call the city home.  Beachwood residents are predominantly well-educated professionals, with more than half holding bachelor's degrees or higher.  As such, the community understands the value of education and expects excellence in their children's schools.  Through a partnership between the city government, the school district and the chamber of commerce, Beachwood helps to build long-term stability and success of their schools and their community.  In fact, 30 percent of the children enrolled in Beachwood City Schools have parents who are alumni––many have grandparents who are active community members.  Due to these factors and more, the school district recently received an A rating from the Ohio State Report Card and is one of the top 15 public school districts in Ohio.

In fact, Beachwood City Schools have earned three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards, the highest rating of excellent from the state of Ohio Department of Education.  For Johnson, sharing Beachwood’s success stems from more than just pride in her community –– it’s become her mission as the city’s communication coordinator.  That being said, Johnson has plenty to be proud of in her adopted hometown. 

Beachwood is also home to over 2,500 companies who draw more than 25,000 employees to the area.  Since 2009, Beachwood businesses have invested more than $800 million in improvements and new construction projects.  Beachwood has the fifth-lowest property tax rate of the 73 taxing districts in Cuyahoga County, according to a review by Cleveland.com.  Yet land values in this thriving suburb are among the highest in Cuyahoga County.

As an added benefit, Beachwood is strategically located off of I-271, just 11 miles east of downtown Cleveland, with easy access to three interstate highways.  The community's diverse business core includes Fortune 500 companies, international companies, entrepreneurs, a blue chip business center, a thriving commercial and shopping area, a center for world-class medical care, and a national leader in technology.  Together, combined these assets draw more than 100,000 people every day to Beachwood.

Beachwood is also home to nine hotels, providing over 1,500 rooms and more than 43,000 square feet of meeting space.  The Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals and University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center give Beachwood a world-class health care presence.  Like every community, safety is of utmost importance.  As such, the city opened a new, state-of-the-art public safety center, which houses one of the city’s fire departments, a dispatch center, and space for public safety, HAZMAT, and emergency-personnel  training in one of the few city-owned training towers in northeast Ohio.  In the event of a crisis situation, the facility also houses an emergency operations center.

Five highly regarded universities are located within a 30-mile radius of the city, including Case Western Reserve University, the University of Akron, Kent State University, John Carroll University and Cleveland State University.  In addition, Ursuline College and Notre Dame College are nearby.  Just outside of Beachwood, Cuyahoga Community College’s Corporate College provides local businesses with training opportunities and professional development for a competitive local labor pool.

Not surprisingly, more than 52% of Beachwood's population has a college degree or higher and 65% are employed in executive, managerial or professional occupations.  And with more than 15% of its residents foreign born, the community’s diversity is five times the average across the state.  In addition, there are more than 30 churches, temples and synagogues within seven miles of Beachwood’s core.  Add in recreational programs for all ages, and you’ll see what makes Beachwood such a livable, fabulous city for families.

“Our diverse and welcoming neighborhoods strengthen our community,” Mayor Horwitz said. “I’ve lived here for more than 50 years and am so grateful for the opportunity to lead this wonderful city.”

This month, Beachwood will host the 2nd annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 7.  On that day, from noon until 5 pm, residents and nonresidents alike are invited to Beachwood to experience live music, inflatables, crafts, games, and food trucks.  This year, attendees can also hone their skills on one of two ninja courses, with an opportunity to meet American Ninja Warrior athlete Michelle Warnky.  This free event takes place in the Beachwood City Hall parking lot, and is sponsored by the city of Beachwood, Beachwood City Schools, and the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on Beachwood as a great place to live, work, and visit, check out their website at www.beachwoodohio.com or call (216) 464-1070.