The Cleveland Enviro Toolkit is a powerful community-driven resource designed to support Cleveland residents, organizations, and policymakers in tackling environmental challenges. The toolkit provides practical guidance, clear explanations, and actionable steps that empower people to improve neighborhood health, reduce environmental risks, and participate in shaping Cleveland’s sustainable future.
Launched with the goal of making environmental data and resources more accessible, the toolkit brings together essential information about air, water, land, energy, climate resilience, and environmental justice. In 2025, the toolkit is more relevant than ever, aligning with updated city climate action plans and expanded community monitoring programs.
Why the Cleveland Enviro Toolkit Matters
Cleveland faces a unique mix of environmental opportunities and challenges due to its:
- Geographic location near Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes.
- Industrial history that left behind pollution hotspots and legacy contamination.
- Health disparities, including high asthma rates in certain neighborhoods.
- Climate risks such as heatwaves, flooding, and severe storms.
The toolkit is important because it:
- Translates complex environmental data into easy-to-understand community information.
- Highlights environmental justice, showing where pollution overlaps with vulnerable populations.
- Provides step-by-step guides for residents to launch projects like air monitoring or greening vacant lots.
- Connects neighborhoods to citywide climate and sustainability goals.
Toolkit Structure
The Cleveland Enviro Toolkit is divided into clear modules. Each one focuses on a specific environmental theme and includes tools, checklists, guides, and templates for action.
Main Modules
- Air Quality
- Understanding pollutants like PM2.5 and ozone.
- Community air monitoring guides.
- How to read dashboards and interpret sensor data.
- Water
- Drinking water safety and lead awareness.
- Stormwater management practices.
- Green infrastructure and Lake Erie protection.
- Land and Green Space
- Tree planting and urban forestry.
- Vacant lot reuse projects.
- Community gardening and soil safety.
- Climate & Energy
- Energy-saving actions for homes and businesses.
- Preparing neighborhoods for extreme weather.
- Understanding Cleveland’s Climate Action Plan.
- Policy & Advocacy
- How to contact city officials and influence decisions.
- Model ordinances and template letters.
- Tips for grant writing and fundraising.
- Community Data & Tools
- Accessing local dashboards.
- Guides for quality assurance and data collection.
- Mapping tools for identifying environmental risks.
What’s New in 2025
1. Updated Climate Action Commitments
In 2025, Cleveland reaffirmed its climate goals and emphasized equity-focused neighborhood engagement. The toolkit now aligns more directly with these updates, helping residents translate citywide targets into local action.
2. Expanded Air Monitoring
A major initiative has added approximately 30 community air sensors across Cleveland. These sensors give neighborhoods near-real-time air quality data. A public-facing dashboard allows residents to track pollution and connect findings to health concerns like asthma.
3. Greater Resident Involvement
Community members are not only data users but also decision-makers. Residents now help decide where sensors are placed, which environmental issues to prioritize, and how monitoring data should be shared.
Toolkit Modules Overview
| Module | Key Purpose | Users | Practical Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | Monitor and reduce pollution | Residents, health orgs | Sensor siting guides, dashboards, reporting templates |
| Water | Ensure safe water and reduce flooding | Homeowners, schools | Testing tips, rain garden plans, lead safety steps |
| Land & Green Space | Transform vacant lots, improve canopy | CDCs, volunteers | Tree planting guides, soil testing advice, reuse plans |
| Climate & Energy | Build resilience and save energy | Planners, businesses | Retrofit checklists, storm prep guides |
| Policy & Advocacy | Drive systemic change | Advocates, nonprofits | Model policy drafts, outreach letters, grant writing tools |
| Data & Tools | Use evidence for action | Researchers, students | Data dashboards, QA/QC instructions, mapping support |
Air Quality Module — A Walkthrough
Why it matters
- Cleveland neighborhoods experience localized air pollution that affects health.
- Asthma and respiratory problems are often linked to poor air quality.
Toolkit Resources
- Sensor basics: How low-cost sensors detect pollution.
- Placement checklist: Choosing safe and representative locations.
- Community engagement: Steps to form resident advisory groups.
Project Steps
- Form a neighborhood team.
- Choose monitoring locations using the toolkit checklist.
- Install and connect sensors.
- Collect and interpret data.
- Share results in community meetings.
- Use findings to ask the city for targeted actions, like tree planting or traffic changes.
Water Module — Key Guidance
- Drinking water safety: Lead testing in older homes.
- Stormwater management: Creating rain gardens, disconnecting downspouts, and reducing flooding.
- Lake Erie health: Protecting water from runoff and pollution.
Practical Steps
- Organize a neighborhood water testing day.
- Use toolkit templates for reporting water safety results.
- Partner with local groups to design stormwater projects.
Land & Green Space Module
- Turning vacant lots into gardens or parks.
- Planting trees to improve air quality and reduce heat.
- Promoting community gardening for food and health benefits.
Toolkit Tips
- Species selection guides for Cleveland’s climate.
- Soil safety testing checklists.
- Volunteer management strategies for long-term care.
Climate & Energy Module
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions locally.
- Saving money on energy bills through efficiency.
- Preparing neighborhoods for extreme heat and flooding.
Practical Tools
- Home retrofit checklists.
- Community climate workshop guides.
- Templates for resilience planning.
Policy & Advocacy Module
This section helps residents move from information to action:
- Template letters for contacting city officials.
- Model ordinances for local governments.
- Grant writing guidance to secure funding.
Advocacy Pathway
- Gather data with toolkit resources.
- Prepare reports and presentations.
- Meet with council members or city staff.
- Propose specific policy or program solutions.
- Follow up and track results.
Who Uses the Toolkit
- Residents: To understand risks and take small actions.
- Community Organizations: To plan neighborhood projects.
- City Departments: To support outreach and engagement.
- Nonprofits & Universities: To partner on data analysis and training.
- Students & Researchers: To learn and apply environmental science locally.
Example Project Using the Toolkit
Neighborhood Air + Green Space Project
- Form a group of 5–10 residents.
- Consult the air module for sensor placement.
- Install sensors at 4–6 sites.
- Track data for 6 months.
- Use toolkit templates to prepare a report.
- Start a tree-planting project in high-pollution areas.
- Present results to the city council for support.
Measuring Success
Neighborhoods can track progress with clear indicators:
- Number of community members involved.
- Air quality improvements recorded over time.
- Trees planted or vacant lots converted.
- Funding received for sustainability projects.
- Policy changes achieved.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Accessible language and guidance.
- Wide range of topics (air, water, land, energy).
- Strong focus on environmental justice.
- Tools for both small projects and citywide advocacy.
Limitations
- Low-cost sensors require proper calibration.
- Some projects need funding that may be challenging to secure.
- Data interpretation requires community training and partnerships.
Conclusion
The Cleveland Enviro Toolkit (2025) stands as a bridge between citywide goals and neighborhood action. By offering clear, practical resources, it empowers residents to monitor their environment, take concrete steps to improve health and sustainability, and advocate for systemic change.
In 2025, with Cleveland’s updated climate commitments and expanded community monitoring, the toolkit is more valuable than ever. Whether you’re planting trees, testing water, monitoring air quality, or pushing for better policies, the Cleveland Enviro Toolkit provides the guidance you need to transform ideas into impactful action.