In a collaborative effort, Clintonville Inc., the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce and Safer Streets for All recently submitted three joint proposals to the city of Columbus for use of Urban Infrastructure Improvement Funds.

The fund was established to address capital improvement needs in central-city neighborhoods.

"It was fun working with the other civic groups to gather information and make proposals that we feel will be beneficial to the Clintonville community," said Mike McLaughlin, a founding member of Safer Streets for All, in a press release. "It took several weeks to put together all the cost estimates and supporting statements."

Safer Streets for All is a volunteer group that works with the city to improve pedestrian and biking access to city streets.

"This is the first time in several years that the (fund) has been available," past chamber board chairman Gary Weaver said in the release. "It is exciting to be working together with these other wonderful neighborhood groups for the community to make some of the recommendations of the Clintonville Neighborhood Plan become a reality."

The proposed projects were approved by the boards of three organizations, including the nonprofit Clintonville Inc., which works to renew the neighborhood's business district.

The proposals include:

* Improved crosswalks on the two busiest sides of the intersection of Morse Road and North High Street;

* Improved crosswalks on North High Street at Hollenback Road, at the entrance to Whetstone Park and the Whetstone branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library; and

* A short, planted median on Indianola Avenue between Milford and Melrose avenues, where there are no driveways

In addition, a fourth group, the Sharon Heights Community Association, applied jointly with the other three groups to request street trees on North High Street north of Morse Road.

The city's evaluation will be based on the thoroughness of the applications and whether the proposals fit with the city's previously published list of identified projects and the area's neighborhood plan, according to the announcement.