Committee approves $10,000 city sponsorship for 1 World Day at Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Municipal Services and Properties Committee approved an emergency ordinance to authorize the director of Parks and Recreation to enter an agreement with the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation to co‑sponsor the 2025 1 World Day event in Rockefeller Park with $10,000 in city support. The committee passed Ordinance No. 465‑2024 and asked members to sign the legislation.

The Parks and Recreation director told the committee the city has supported 1 World Day “for the last 8 or 9 years” and that the $10,000 request would cover transportation and golf‑cart rentals to move attendees between gardens. “Planning for this event has already started to take place in 2024,” the director said. The director added that the 2024 payment came from the public works department and that, beginning with the new departmental structure in 2025, the funds will come from Parks and Recreation.

Committee members pressed administration staff for context about other festivals the city supports from the general operating budget. Councilman Anthony Harrison requested a list of neighborhood organizations and festivals that have received operating general‑fund support rather than councilmatic discretionary funding. Harrison said he wants parity between administration support and councilmembers’ discretionary practices.

Councilman Brian Casey asked for an update on outstanding fundraising for the African American Garden and requested staff follow up on that specific budget request. The director said staff would check on the request.

The committee did not record additional public debate on the item; the ordinance passed at the committee meeting and members were asked to sign the legislation.