Oakwood Neighborhood Association

Partial Closure of Bronson Blvd/Whites Rd Intersection Starts Monday, June 24 as Whites Rd Project Continues



KALAMAZOO, Mich. – June 11, 2024 – The intersection of Whites Rd and Bronson Blvd will partially close starting Monday, June 24 as the water main and street reconstruction project continues to progress westward. The closure is expected to last through July 12.

Local traffic should utilize Duke St for access to Whites Rd between Bronson and Duke St. Other traffic will be detoured around the closure.

This closure is necessary to complete the water main replacement work within the intersection area. While it is closed, construction will also begin on the new mast arm-style traffic signal that will be installed as part of the project.

This closure is part of the larger Whites Rd project that has been underway since March. You can learn more about the project at www.kalamazoocity.org/WhitesProject.

Whites Rd Water Main & Reconstruction A water main replacement project on Whites Road will continue from Oakland to Westnedge, with a road diet and other improvements.

Neighbors, wanted to share this with you.

" The Kalamazoo Country Club will be starting a large concrete pour process for the parking garage deck on Monday, June 3rd. Because of the duration of this element of the construction project work will begin at 4 AM in the morning."

They have gotten permits from the city to start earlier in the day for this project. Let your neighbors know especially those that live closer to the project site.

HAPPENING NOW!!!!!
Bicycle fix -it and fun
Saturday June 1st
10am to 2pm
The neighborhood center
Bring your bicycle to get checked out and tuned up for the season of riding and other safty tips. There will be helmet giveaways and fitting, too.

Inkster Street Bridge Reconstruction The Inkster Street Bridge will be reconstructed in 2024, with several improvements and a design based on community feedback.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY - February 15, 2024
Water Infrastructure Repair
Hazel Avenue, City of Kalamazoo

The City of Kalamazoo is in the process of repairing a water gate valve on Hazel Avenue. The repair resulted in a temporary loss of pressure and consequently, a precautionary boil water advisory is being issued in cooperation with the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department for all water intended for drinking or ingestion or any consumptive uses within the affected area (see provided map), including:

Hazel Avenue- From Ruthin Road (western boundary), east to the dead end (eastern boundary), both sides of the roadway. It does NOT include the southwest corner of Hazel Avenue and Ruthin Road.

Stevens Avenue- From Oakland Drive (western boundary) to Ruthin Road (eastern boundary), both sides of the roadway.

Ruthin Road- From Hazel Avenue (northern boundary) to Stevens Avenue (southern boundary), both sides of the roadway.

Oakland Drive- It ONLY includes the northeast and southeast corners of Oakland Drive and Stevens Avenue.


This advisory is precautionary only; there have not been any confirmed tests showing bacteria present in the water main at the location of the infrastructure repair. Initial sampling results will be available within 24 hours of its collection and the final set within 48 hours. It is expected that the advisory will be lifted within 72 hours (February 17).

Municipal water customers in the affected area may use bottled water for consumptive purposes or boil their tap water for two minutes prior to use for drinking or other ingestion. No special precautionary measures are necessary for water used for personal hygiene.

February 1, 2024, Kalamazoo, MI – Public Services Department will upgrade the traffic signal at the intersection of Oakland Drive and Parkview Avenue beginning Monday, February 5, 2024, and continuing until Friday, February 9, 2024. During that time, the intersection will be controlled by STOP signs for traffic in all directions. Work times will be subject to weather. Drivers are advised to watch for construction equipment in the intersection working on overhead wires. The upgraded signals will allow more efficient timing of the traffic signals and ultimately, smoother flow through the intersection.

Just a few minutes left!!!!! Come on by!!

Trunk or Treat!

Where: Oakwood Neighborhood Center,
3320 Laird Ave.
When: October 28, 2023 from 3-5:00 P.M.

What: Treats, free books, cider & goodies, face painting, prizes, a fire truck and the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Don’t forget to stop by Kazoo Books from 1-3 P.M on 10/28/23 for more Halloween fun and treats.

3 city commissioners will be at tonight's Oakwood Neighborhood Association meeting—just getting started—to discuss issues and answer questions.

You can join virtually at this link:
meet.google.com/txd-hdbz-ahr

These are the topics currently scheduled for discussion:

1. Need for youth programming.
a. Park and Rec. We get an outdoor movie once every two years. No after school program, and summer program buses a small group from Oakwood.
b. There is a need for cooperation from Kalamazoo Public Schools to use Oakwood facility for after school and summer programs.
2. Metro Transit
There is a need Need for city influence to not accept consultants recommendations to make South west Kalamazoo (Oakwood-Parkview Hills) a mass transportation desert. No access to voting station etc. Micro transit idea is not viable in Kalamazoo right now.
3. Sidewalks / Crosswalks/ Roads: We are enjoying our new ones However, a. We still need sidewalks on those blocks with schools for a Safe Walk to School. (West side of 3300-3400 Laird and east side of 3300-3400 Kent.
b. Ask for city help to keep sidewalks clean and cleared.
c. The crosswalk on Oakland by Edgewood needs signage or more visibility from the south
d. Several roads still in need of repair and proper drainage.
4. Deer issue
a. Education of residents
b. Deer committee recommendations followed
c. There is a need for this to be a core city service
5. Neighborhood funding. We do appreciate the extra fund for our neighborhood plans, however, There has been No increase in several years to cover general operating cost. Our cost is going up and it has been hard to fund raise through the pandemic. First check each year is a month or two late.
6. Zoning of our Memorial Park and green spaces in Kalamazoo.
7. Oakwood businesses have been asking for several years to have lighting similar to downtown in trees in front of Oakwood Plaza and Parkview businesses
8. Country Club new building Concerns for the environment and neighborhood.
9. City Staff communications. We appreciate our neighborhood activators. However,311 is sometimes seen as barrier as Kalamazoo city workers often seem harder to reach by phone or in person. Not everyone is comfortable with e-mails and websites. It would be nice and more efficient to be able to reach staff directly without always going through operator and multiple questions. I.E. staffs are two steps removed by operators and locked offices.
10. Create another park in the west side of Oakwood as per our neighborhood plan In addition there may be other resident concerns

Meet Real-time meetings by Google. Using your browser, share your video, desktop, and presentations with teammates and customers.

First Kalamazoo Earth Day Festival on the horizon In a move to bring together the environmental and beautification efforts of three Kalamazoo neighborhood (Vine, Edison, and Oakwood), the Kalamazoo Earth Day Festival is launching April 22, 2023.

We're making a second round of pickup to collect storm debris placed out at the curb. If your material is not collected by March 31, please call 311 to let us know. Thanks for your patience- we have already collected more than 900 truckloads of debris.

Super Books are available for sale at the Oakwood Neighborhood Center for $40 each. This annual fundraising effort helps raise money for ONA activities and programs AND saves you money out in the community. Check out where here: https://www.superbookcoupons.com/product-page/kalamazoo-superbook

Bell Book and Canto at the Community of Christ Church! Beautiful music and a source of food for the ONA food pantry! 🙏🏼🎶🙏🏼

Curbside bulk trash collection will start Thursday, December 1 for households in the city of Kalamazoo. Residents can place out large trash items (like old furniture or appliances) for collection according to the program schedule, which is available at www.kalamazoocity.org/bulktrash, in the View from the Curb newsletter, or via the Recycle Coach app.

Residents can place out up to 7.5 cubic yards of material for collection, which is about three mattresses, two or three pieces of furniture, or one large sectional. It’s roughly what would fit in the bed of a pickup truck.

Material should be placed at the curb the day before the scheduled collection. Uncollected items must be removed from the curb area within two days after the scheduled collection, so missed collections should also be reported within this time frame. Bulk trash material placed out too soon or left out after collection is considered a nuisance and could result in a fine.

The program is intended for large household items. Construction material, bags of clothing, regular household trash, or anything in black garbage bags is not accepted. Appliances that have chemicals (like water softeners) must have the chemicals removed. Very large items like fencing or carpeting must be cut into pieces no larger than 4-feet by 4-feet. Residents should review what types of material are accepted before placing items out for collection or call 311 or (269) 337-8000 if they have any questions.

Bulk Trash Learn about the City of Kalamazoo's bulk trash program or report a missed pickup.

Leaf collection has been temporarily paused as crews respond to the snow. It will resume as soon as possible. If snow prevents us from finishing the program, leaves are also collected during the Spring Clean-Up in April.

View the current status and schedule: https://gis.kalamazoocity.org/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=818e6c3e49994656a7517e7829c99ea0

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is offering a special food distribution tonight to ensure all families have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Social Justice Youth Awards Learn how the City of Kalamazoo recognizes outstanding youth that are making a difference in our community.

As of Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 3:00 PM, the precautionary boil water advisory issued November 9, 2022, has been lifted by the City of Kalamazoo, in cooperation with the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department. Citizens in the affected area can now use City water for consumption as well as all other purposes. Bacteriological sampling within the affected area verified that the water is safe to drink. See the provided map for the affected area.
Springmont Avenue: From Madison Street (western boundary) to Adams Street (eastern boundary). Does NOT include northwest and southwest corners of Springmont Avenue and Madison Street.
Adams Street: From Amherst Avenue (northern boundary) to Springmont Avenue (southern boundary) both side of the roadway. Does NOT include southeast and southwest corners of Adams Street and Amherst Avenue. Also does NOT include northeast and southeast corners of Adams Street and Springmont Avenue.
Madison Street: From Amherst Avenue (northern boundary) to Springmont Avenue (southern boundary) both sides of the roadway. Does NOT include southeast and southwest corners of Madison Street and Amherst Avenue. Also does NOT include northeast and southeast corners of Madison Street and Springmont Avenue.
The understanding and cooperation of affected residents, businesses and institutions is much appreciated.

The City of Kalamazoo has scheduled a watermain repair on Springmont Avenue on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, starting at 8:00 a.m. a precautionary boil water advisory is being issued for water used for drinking or ingestion or any consumptive uses within the affected area.

Between now and Thursday, Nov. 10, store guests who visit the D&W Fresh Market have the opportunity to donate $1, $5, $10 or round up their purchase at any checkout lane. this money will benefit the Oakwood Neighborhood Association's food pantry. Thank you to the D&W Fresh Market and the – and to everyone who donates during the campaign to end hunger.

Trunk or Treat going on until 5! Come join us at the ONA (behind the fire station)!

Here's a great article about Building Blocks - a program which has benefited our neighborhood for decades! Oakwood is mentioned in the article and there's a link to a cool video!

Students Learn by Doing - LuxEsto Founded by Professor Emeritus Kim Cummings as a student-neighborhood endeavor in 1995, Building Blocks of Kalamazoo today stands out as an exemplar of the partnerships between K and and the city—a place where “experiential education” becomes tangible and transformative, and where even ancient ...