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MEDINA, Ohio — Major changes could be coming to the historic heart of Medina, as city leaders begin weighing a redesign of Medina Square aimed at improving safety for pedestrians, drivers and businesses alike.
Members of the Medina City Council Streets and Sidewalks Committee spent much of their Tuesday meeting discussing whether the square’s long-standing diagonal parking configuration should give way to parallel parking and wider sidewalks.
That potential shift could reduce the number of parking spaces, but also curb crashes and close calls.
The discussion, labeled “Modification of Parking Around the Square,” was driven largely by safety concerns.
Council President John Coyne III said that outgoing police chief Edward Kinney gave council members a report that showed there were typically 30 to 40 crashes a year in and around the square, with 41 accidents — one of which was fatal — reported last year alone.
Coyne said the current layout no longer matches how the square is used.
“We have a gem of an asset in our city, which is called The Square, and it’s an historic square, which has a lot of great buildings on it,” Coyne said. “We attract thousands of people each year to our square and to its events from all over Northeast Ohio and other states.
“With all that occurring, which happened over the last 20 years, we have a lot more pedestrians walking around the square on a regular basis. So, the question becomes, what are we trying to do here?”
Much of the concern centers on angled parking, which requires drivers to back blindly into traffic, often across crosswalks and through clusters of pedestrians. Narrow sidewalks further complicate matters, especially during busy weekends and events.
Large trucks were another focal point. Several speakers noted that semitrailers are routinely routed through the square, despite tight turns and limited sightlines.
A truck driver and a local attorney who has defended truck drivers in pedestrian injury cases both described how blind spots can make the area particularly dangerous.
City officials and residents largely voiced support for rethinking the square, envisioning wider sidewalks, safer crossings and space for outdoor dining that could make downtown more inviting. Some speakers also criticized the aesthetics of angled parking, calling it cluttered and outdated for a community centerpiece.
Business owners and representatives from Main Street Medina said they are open to changes but urged the city to proceed carefully.
Concerns included delivery access, adequate ADA parking, and the perception — if not the reality — of losing too many parking spaces.
Several speakers stressed that any change must be part of a comprehensive plan rather than a piecemeal fix.
Committee members echoed that caution. Councilman Ed Isabella, who chairs the committee, emphasized that no decisions have been made and that public input will be critical before the committee moves forward.
The conversation also tied into broader, long-running efforts to reshape downtown, including the stalled sidewalk bump-out project and a proposed Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA).
Together, those initiatives reflect an ongoing push to redefine how Medina Square functions — as a traffic circle, a business district, and a gathering place.
For now, city leaders appear to be balancing a shared desire for a safer, more pedestrian-friendly downtown against the practical trade-offs that come with changing one of Medina’s most recognizable spaces.