Toledo Grass Mowing Program

With the help of 52 community mowing partners, the City of Toledo, Ohio’s grass mowing program works each summer to keep parks, neighborhoods, and boulevards neat and tidy. Through an online form, residents can report “high grass concerns” for the City to review. Once the request is received, the City schedules an inspection. If the property is in need of mowing, it is added to the routine mowing schedule. If the original “requestor” provided contact information on the form, they will receive updates on the inspection and determination. Properties are cut around a dozen times annually, with the cut dates recorded and available on the City’s website. The contact information of the mowing partners and their covered geography are listed as well.

Maintenance of vacant land is a challenge for many cities, Toledo’s program is an example of leveraging neighborhood capacity, both in identifying issues and in abating them, to improve vacant lot conditions.