Welcome to the Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Association website!

2017 car show - best of show!
*5th Annual ODWNA Neighborhood Car Show!
Wrap Up

Another great car show...thanks to YOU!

Our 5th Annual Car Show was a great success...perfect weather, delicious pizza by Camzie's, Cole-Nissan's new Nissan trucks, Gilmore Car Museum's 1886 Benz...and over 25 awesome classic cars on display!

Best Of Show went to Ron & Cathy Jacobs with their beautiful 1966 Ford Thunderbird. 2nd place was Lloyd Bateman and his 1936 DeSoto Airstream.  3rd place went to Peter Kushner and his 1948 Studebaker Champion.

THANKS to all who came out to see the cars, who brought their rides, and to our great sponsors!
Pick up after your dog!
*Dog Pick Up
Let's All Respect Our Neighborhood!

Remember, City Ordinances requires you to pick up after your dog! Let's respect our neighbors and keep our neighborhood clean and a great place to live!

*Tall Grass & Weeds
Property owners are also encouraged to maintain their properties to help keep our City and neighborhoods inviting, avoid costly fines, and help prevent the spread of noxious weeds and invasive plants. Citizens can report grass at or near 12” high, or noxious weeds by calling the 24-hour hotline at (269) 337-8847.
Spring/Summer 2017 View From The Curb HERE
*City Trash Ordinance 
Property owners in the City are reminded of their responsibilities to keep properties trash free throughout the year. Chapter 15A of the City of Kalamazoo Code of Ordinances (commonly known as the Trash Ordinance) states, "…All garbage must be stored in a watertight container that is constructed of metal, plastic or other durable material impervious to rodents, has a tight-fitting lid or cover, and is capable of being serviced without creating unsanitary conditions..."

After April 22, properties that are in violation of the ordinance will be issued a written citation allowing 10 days to clean up the property and a $77 fine. If the property is not cleaned up within 10 days, a crew will be dispatched to clean up the property on behalf of the property owner, who will be billed for the recovery of enforcement costs. 

Please take a proactive approach and help keep our city clean and inviting for everyone who lives, works, learns, or plays in Kalamazoo!
*City Contacts
  • Lt. Craig Habel of the Kalamazoo Dept. of Public Safety stopped by our February with two of his officers to introduce himself to the neighborhood and let us know that KDPS is always here for us. He stressed that if anyone ever has a (non-emergency) question or issue about public safety to not hesitate to contact him.  He can be reached here:
  • Yvonne Wright is our Rental Inspector.  Any questions or concerns you have about rental properties (or blight issues) can be addressed to her directly:
*Asylum Lake Preservation Association (ALPA)
Upcoming Meetings

The ALPA is a volunteer organization dedicated to assuring the the Preserve remains a natural open space, to see that it is preserved as a habitat for wildlife and continued use by the community.  You can visit their website for more information.

*No ALPA  meetings are held in the summer months
"Quality of Life" Issues/Who to Contact
Ordinance Enforcement

As a follow-up to recent neighbor concerns regarding nuisance/quality of life ordinance adherence,  we have listed on our Resource Links page the areas of concern as well as the City contact phone number you may call to report any perceived violations.  Our City Rental Inspector has assured us that any complaints registered with the city will be followed up on, and the person reporting the violation will remain anonymous.

You can also report violations via the City's website with their Report It! link 
Go HERE to read the full meeting minutes of this (or any) of our ODWNA Association meetings ​
As always; feel free to email us with your thoughts for the neighborhood!
* REMINDER - the ODWNA does NOT meet in the months of June, July or August
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September 20, 2017
7:00pm, Winchell Elementary Library

("Meet & Greet" your neighbors and the Board at 6:30pm)
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** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE
Thanks for another great Speaker Series season...we will inform everyone of our 2017-18 lineup in August!

Remember - ODWNA meetings are open to all!
​NON-Association neighbors are always welcome!
*Lunchtime Live! Returns for the Summer
Begins Friday June 9

Lunchtime Live! returns Friday, June 9 and every Friday this summer from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for lunch and live music in Bronson Park, located in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo! You can find details on Facebook HERE
*Kzoo Parks 2017 Fun Guide Now Available!

Looking for some summer fun for you or your family? Look no further than the 2017 Parks & Recreation Fun Guide! It includes information on recreation programs planned for 2017 ranging from sports, art, summer camps, lessons, Lunchtime Live! and much more! 
*June City Commission Work Sessions
Focus on Kalamazoo Foundation For Excellence and Medical Marijuana

The Kalamazoo City Commission will hold two Work Sessions in the month of June in addition to regularly scheduled meetings:
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- On June 12 the Commission will meet to discuss the Foundation for Excellence and discuss progress with City staff.
- On June 26 the topic will be upcoming changes that will be taking place in Kalamazoo regarding Medical Marijuana. Both meetings are tentatively scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall.
*Harrison Street & Gull Road Roundabout Construction Begins
Construction Began May 31 

Harrison Street will remain open to all businesses throughout the project and detours will be posted for its duration. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly when traveling in this area as they may experience delays during peak traffic times.

The project is scheduled to be completed in November 2017. As the project progresses, additional closures will be necessary to accommodate construction.  
*Draft Kalamazoo Climate Action Plan Available for Public Comment

Since January 2017, The City of Kalamazoo has been collaborating with students in the Master of International Development Administration (MIDA) program at Western Michigan University to develop a climate action plan for the City of Kalamazoo.

They have talked with dozens of local stakeholders and examined what other communities across the United States are doing or have done to address these issues. The result of this effort is a draft Climate Action Plan for the City of Kalamazoo.

The draft is available for public review and feedback. Please email your comments and questions to Rebekah Kik
* Are Your Service Water Pipes Made of Lead?
Check the map and database link below
Kalamazoo's municipal water system has about 4,300 known lead service lines at about 2,800 addresses out of a total of more than 46,000 service lines in the system.

At about 1,600 addresses, both the yard service lines and street service lines are lead. Of those addresses with one or the other, most of the lead pipes are yard service lines, according to city records.

You can go to an MLive article HERE to access the map and/or search the database to see if your address is listed.

Anyone on Kalamazoo's municipal water system can call the city at #269-337-8550 to set up a free appointment to have their water tested for lead.

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Here is a guide from the EPA, supplied to us by the City, that explains:
• How lead gets into the body
• About health effects of lead
• What you can do to protect your family
• Where to go for more information
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Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home
* Connect With City Government!
Connect with the city to receive news, updates, and alerts
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1)  Foundation For Excellence website

2) www.ImagineKalamazoo.com where the public can connect and collaborate with local decision makers and other residents on the future of our community.

3) www.kalamazoocity.org/connect  provides information on how residents can connect with the city to receive important information and updates.

4) The city has created an online newsletter. This bi-monthly publication will contain information about what is happening around the City and include news, alerts, meeting schedules & agendas, and events. Go HERE to sign up.

ODWNA Statement of Purpose

-Preserve and enhance the neighborhood living concept in the area.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encurage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhod spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.

The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
2016-17 ODWNA Board Members
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Secretary - Sandy Bolstad
Treasurer - Diana Morton-Thompson

Board Members at-large:
Barb Ross
Paul Scott
Kathy Shook

Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Map

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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019