Program areas at UCI
Public safety - the University Circle police department (ucpd) is a private police force consisting of approximately twenty-five commissioned law officers which serves the public in the University Circle area pursuant to law enforcement authority granted by state law. Ucpd looks to be a national model of excellence through highly engaging community policing efforts combined with behavioral compliance built on community trust. Ucpd works closely with the cleveland police department, the case western reserve University police department, University hospitals police department, and other University Circle institutional security forces to provide for public safety and security. Ucpd hosts free programs to build bridges of trust and encourage dialogue between the department and the community, such as coffee with a cop and shop with a cop. Ucpd also employs a co-responder to better meet the needs of those experiencing mental illness and/or our unsheltered population by connecting them with resources. University Circle also hosts periodic pedestrian safety advisory meetings to discuss road safety issues and to provide the community with a forum to share their thoughts on pedestrian safety. Thanks to these collaborative efforts, University Circle is statistically one of safest neighborhoods in the city of cleveland.
Education - our community education department collaborates with institutional partners to bring learning to life to preschool and middle school students and senior adult learners through our arts-enriched community education programs: early learning initiative, linking education and discovery, future connections, Circle scholars, yay! Saturdays arts and education series, Circle explorers, and University Circle interactive cleveland.
Property management - University Circle Incorporated is an implementing agent of the land bank concept whereby real estate situated within University Circle and its surrounding neighborhoods may be acquired and held until its reuse or development occurs. Real estate is used or held for various purposes, including income production and sale to member institutions and other businesses and organizations operating in the greater University Circle area in a manner which further charitable purposes, urban renewal, combats community deterioration, fosters economic development or dedication, with its use and disposition determined within the context of University Circle Incorporated's charitable mission. In this capacity, University Circle Incorporated undertakes economic development initiatives and provides property operations, including commercial and residential rental, and infrastructure improvements in the greater University Circle area.
Parking - as the second largest employment district in northeastern Ohio and a destination for three million annual visitors, University Circle Incorporated's parking program continues to serve the public. The program is operated by a national provider of professional parking, groud transportation, facility maintenance, and event logistics services.
Advocacy - University Circle Incorporated is the central advocacy organization for University Circle. As a catalyst and a convener, uci partners with its member institutions to create greater public awareness and promote University Circle as a destination through marketing programs, strategic communications, and the production of community arts, cultural, and entertainment events in University Circle throughout the year. The uci team also advocates for transit improvements, public enhancements, infrastructure repairs, and ongoing maintenance and landscaping by working closely with municipal and private partners.
Our community engagement department collaborates with many institutional and community partners to expand access to the resources within the Circle. The team meets regularly with the major institutions within the Circle to better understand every offering and meets regularly with residents and visitors to gain knowledge on needs, service gaps, and community desires to create a neighborhood where all are thriving and growing. Our events, marketing and place departments all work collaboratively to create a robust calendar of events, implement public art projects and placemaking that is throughout the district, host small business networking activities, winter programs accessible to the community, and shop small incentivization programs. From large scale events such as parade the Circle to recurring concerts such as wow! Wade oval wednesdays to interactive displays and art projects, all are intended to create engaging moments for our local neighbors and our regional visitors. Our goal is to curate a place that is meaningful to all, where memories can be made that change lives and perceptions. Our community development team facilitates the processes by which local stakeholders and outside developers plan and physically develop space in University Circle. In addition, certain donor purpose programming specifically contributed to the completion of the jesse owens olympic oak plaza in rockefeller park and a neighborhood community needs assessment.