Rating the Suburbs 2011: If you love the planet

Brunswick

The city got a sweet 50th birthday present in October: an 82-acre park that includes a 24-acre lake and 14-acre nature preserve. "We are looking at building an amphitheater for summer concerts," says acting facilities and recreation superintendent Ryan Lutz. There are also plans to more than double the length of the existing 2,475-foot fitness trail.

Cleveland Heights

Rooftop solar panels will power the LED lights and computerized schedules at a new Mayfield Road bus stop, and the Cumberland Pool parking lot will soon get a conservation-minded makeover as well thanks to grants. "It uses a natural bioretention basin to filter uncontrolled runoff during rainstorms into the ground, where it can feed the surrounding trees and shrubs," says assistant city manager Susanna O'Neil.

Euclid

City Hall and the Euclid Public Library will each be outfitted with more than 300 solar panels that are expected to save around $50,000 in energy costs over the next 15 years. "We want to demonstrate our support for green technology and make green energy companies want to come here," says special projects coordinator Brian Iorio.