Submitted photo Campbell Memorial High School students Natalia Gonzalez, Zachary Lucas, Kendall Brunn and Alexa Clark stand for a photo after presenting their beautification project to city council Wednesday event. The project would be for a section of Robinson Road, where many Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. homes have been demolished.

CAMPBELL — Council members have adopted a resolution to give the Campbell City School District a $2,500 donation for an improvement project that several high school students proposed.

During their regular meeting Wednesday evening, council approved the move to provide the funding to improve and beautify a nearly 1-acre parcel on Robinson Road.

For many years, that area was the site of several long abandoned rows of Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. homes that fell into disrepair and led to blighted neighborhoods. Over time, the structures became uninhabitable, dangerous and in deplorable condition, city officials and others have complained. Many of them have been razed, including along Robinson Road.

The historic homes also have been targets of arsons. In June 2023, four such fires were deliberately set to homes on Robinson Road and nearby Andrews Avenue. Council President George Levendis is among those who have led the charge to have the buildings demolished.

The four students, Natalia Gonzalez, Alexa Clark, Kendall Brunn and Zachary Lucas, submitted the proposal to convert the parcel to green space that could include benches, barbecue grills, a food pantry, a workout area and an information board near a bus stop, city Councilman Timothy O’Bryan, D-1st Ward, said.

“This is a good learning experience for them,” O’Bryan said, adding that the project leaves room for expansion. “I think it’s going to work out.”

The four students came up with the proposal, and another class of students can implement it, he said.

In February, Brian Macala, former city law director, gave several dozen Campbell High students a history of the city and its relationship with the steel industry, with a focus on the company homes.

In other business, Mayor Bryan Tedesco announced the annual Campbell Summer Fest is set for mid-July. The festivities will be from 4 to 10 p.m. July 12 as well as noon to 10 p.m. July 13 and 14.

The three-day funfest will include a DJ, a Chinese auction, rides, a 50 / 50 raffle, fireworks and live music, including a performance from Candace Campana.

City council is in summer recess, with the next regular meeting set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at city hall, 351 Tenney Ave. Nevertheless, Tedesco said his monthly town hall sessions at the community center in Roosevelt Park will continue, with the next one at 6 p.m. July 17.

The guest speaker will be defense attorney Lynn Maro, who is running against Gina DeGenova in the Nov. 5 election for county prosecutor.

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