Evidence can be seen in deserted Collinwood storefornts and the opulent new shopping malls located on former farmland.
Urban sprawl is a statewide concern as much as environmental protection.
Urban sprawl causes damage to the environment through the development and deforestation of virgin and rural land. It has continued unabated until very recently when the need to regulate growth in outerbelt areas gained public recognition. Public awareness of the issue and the consequences to older neighborhoods must increase. Commuting long distances to new subdivisions in the hinterlands wastes time, money, and natural resources. The total wealth of the Greater Cleveland region as well as the population has been relatively static for many years.