Union Miles Park/Corlett

This working class, primarily residential neighborhood has been actively attempting to bring back retail. It’s working. A $5 million retail center with a bank, restaurants and clothing stores will break ground in September. The local Firestone store has recently completed a $500,000 renovation with dollars from the storefront renovation program. Even the residential area is getting a boost thanks to a model block initiative taking place on Revere Avenue.

Neighborhood Gem

Hearing that the YMCA was closing might have meant bad news for this community; however, the City of Cleveland purchased its building and transformed it into what Debra L. Prater, executive director of the Union Miles Development Corp., touts as the “most used recreation center in the City.”

A state-of-the-art exercise facility featuring the latest in exercise equipment, weight room and flat-screen televisions is only part of what has made this recreation center successful. “This speaks directly to the efforts of our councilman, Robert White,” she says.

The center is free and offers programs appealing to a broad-based age demographic, including a small day care center and playground, ballroom dancing, tai chi and computer classes, a basketball court and outdoor baseball diamond.