"Cleveland has heart." This was the basis of the speech given by Cleveland's mayor during his inaugural address in 2006. It is true that Cleveland is a city that has had its share of ups and downs. However, life in Cleveland seems to be on an upswing lately. In October 2005, Cleveland was named the "Most Livable City" in the United States by the Economist Intelligence Unit. New initiatives enacted in Cleveland should play a large role in the city's hopes for the future.

In 2006, an Operations Efficiency Task Force was created. An arts program was quickly put in place and was followed by a five-year Capital Improvement Plan. However, the next move, the creation of "Clean Cleveland," instituted by Mayor Frank G. Jackson, was the most immediately noticeable. This program aimed to make Cleveland a better place to live, and to create a system of maintenance to continue the higher standard of health and living that it initially intended to create.

In this system, areas of the city were divided into sections, with bulk cleanup being delivered to areas in greater need. In addition, the plan called for more health inspections, bulk item pick-up, vacant lot grass-cutting, abandoned structure board-up, traffic-signal repair, and utility cuts and graffiti removal, among other improvements. Still in the works are a "2020" plan aimed at better connecting the city of Cleveland and a large-scale Water Front project.

Sights and Sounds

• The Cleveland Browns Stadium was built on the location of the former Cleveland Municipal Stadium, which had been home to the Cleveland Browns before Art Modell moved the team out of the city. When the Browns were reborn, a decision was made to wreck the old stadium and build a new one where the other once stood. The naming rights to the stadium were not sold, and the name simply remains Cleveland Browns Stadium. It opened in 1999, and there is a light rail that connects to stadium access.
• If you've brought your family along with you to study in Cleveland, you will find that Cleveland Lakefront State Park is an experience the whole family can enjoy. The huge park features sandy beaches, picnic areas and great views. Use the fitness course or the bike paths, or do some fishing at the marina. The park also has a boardwalk and a playground the kids will love.
• The NASA Glenn Visitor Center offers free admission, and fun and education for the entire family. The many interactive exhibits give you a chance to learn about space flight, the solar system, space communication, the Apollo era and John Glenn. Don't leave the center without experiencing the flight simulator, where you sit in a real pilot seat.
• Just a few miles away in nearby Sandusky you will find Cedar Point, which features more than 150 rides and attractions. Known as the "roller coaster capital of the world," Cedar Point has 16 roller coasters. There are rides for the kids, as well as water rides, live entertainment shows and a petting zoo. If rides are not your thing, relax on the boardwalk or on Cedar Point Beach.
• The Tower City Center was created as a center for trains coming into the city, similar to New York City's Grand Central Terminal. It was completed in 1927 and today holds several offices and restaurants, including a Hard Rock Café. There are plans for more construction in and around the center in the near future.
• The Flats Entertainment District gained its nickname because it is flat. It first started to gain popularity when it underwent changes in the 1980s, as part of the downtown renovations movement. There had been underground music clubs, but larger complexes and several bars were later added to the area. It had a setback in 2000 when several bars were shut down on health code violations. However, the west side has pushed through with new construction of high-cost condominiums. While the east side hasn't fared as well, it did unveil an extensive demolition and reconstruction plan in 2005.
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum opened in 1995 at Ninth Street and Lake Erie. The cost of admission is $20 for an adult, but admission is free for children and members. The museum features exhibits and artifacts donated or on loan from numerous rock artists.
• The Great Lakes Science Center museum and self-described "educational facility" is located in downtown Cleveland between Cleveland Browns Stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The focus of the center is Great Lakes exhibits which display technology, environment and natural phenomena. The center recently installed a wind turbine on its front lawn which it hopes will generate a minimum of 7 percent of the Center's power. The hands-on experiences available at the museum make science fun for kids.

Climate
Cleveland faced a tough time in its original settlement due to its harsh winters, and the temperature has been known to dip as low as 10 degrees, but the temperature in the summer rarely stretches beyond the low 90s. Generally, average winter temperatures are in the mid 20s and summer temperatures hover in the low 70s. The warmest month is usually July, and the highest recorded temperature was 104 degrees in 1988. The coldest time is late January into February, with the coldest recorded temperature being -20 degrees in 1994. Most of Cleveland's precipitation falls in June.

Public Transportation
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ( http://www.gcrta.org ) has an extensive network of bus and rapid service in the City of Cleveland and 58 municipalities. RTA provides a downtown bus loop and four rapid transit lines. The Waterfront Line offers travel throughout downtown Cleveland, taking riders to Tower City Center, Flats Entertainment District, Cleveland Browns Stadium and North Coast Harbor attractions including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Science Center.

University Circle Circlelink is a free shuttle service to major University Circle destinations such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Severance Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland Institute of Music and others. Service runs every 15 minutes from 6:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Sources:
(http://www.clevelandmemory.org/)

(http://ech.case.edu/)

(http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/)