Progress in motion: Building on Orrville’s strengths

Often called the “City of Diversified Industry,” Orrville has long embraced a sense of progress and tradition. Today, that balance can be seen throughout the city, as long-planned projects take shape and new opportunities for growth move closer to reality.

One of those long-planned projects is a new industrial park, an opportunity that has reportedly been discussed for 10 to 15 years but has only recently come together. When Mayor Matt Plybon took office, he wasn't sure whether it would take another decade for the project to become a reality, but it has progressed much more quickly than he anticipated.

“We know several Orrville companies that plan to expand in the next five years that are currently landlocked, so it was important to have available land where they can expand here in Orrville rather than elsewhere,” Plybon said. “We also need available sites for new companies looking to call Wayne County home. Our current industrial parks are basically full, so this is coming at the right time.”

With site due diligence currently underway, the new industrial park will be Orrville’s third industrial area and will be located north of the current Collins Boulevard park, at the corner of State Route 57 and Back Massillon Road. The Wayne Economic Development Council (WEDC) is working alongside the city and is seeking funding through Ohio’s Site Inventory Program (OSIP) to help offset site development costs. The 135-acre property is a greenfield site, meaning the land is largely undeveloped and offers a blank slate for future development.

Described by Plybon as a “wide-open opportunity” for Orrville, the city wants to carefully review data before determining the best uses and types of businesses to target. “We may do some commercial development toward the front of the property,” Plybon said. “The majority of the acreage will be available for industrial development, but the goal is to make an innovative, well-informed decision rather than simply filling acreage.”

That opportunity builds upon Orrville’s already diverse and highly specialized industrial base. While approximately 8,500 people call Orrville home, Plybon said the city’s population swells by roughly 3,000 during the workday as employees travel into the community for work. Many are employed by industries whose work reaches far beyond Wayne County. From The Will-Burt Company’s elevation, lighting and integrated systems used in defense and emergency response, to Moog’s precision components supporting U.S. Navy nuclear submarines and Orrvilon’s specialized containment systems for used nuclear fuel, some of the most advanced work happening in Orrville may also be among the least visible. “You don’t always know what’s happening in your own backyard,” Plybon said.

But for Plybon, Orrville’s progress isn’t measured solely by industrial growth. One of the most visible developments this summer has been Depot Park coming to life. Located downtown on Depot Street, the park is adjacent to the historic Orrville Union Depot, just south of West Market Street.

Depot Park is another project years in the making, requiring extensive behind-the-scenes planning and collaboration before residents could begin enjoying the space this summer. Plybon sees the park as a significant investment not only in downtown, but also in creating a community gathering place and enhancing quality of life. “It was important to me that we have a place where people can come and enjoy something without having to pay an admission fee,” Plybon said. “Economic development is important, but so is investing in the quality of life that makes people want to live and stay here.” The park is already doing just that, hosting a community talent show, live music and an Old Skool concert that Plybon estimated drew approximately 400 people.

Now in his third year as mayor, Plybon stressed the importance of careful planning as Orrville continues to grow. From determining where industrial and commercial development should occur to balancing single-family neighborhoods with higher-density residential areas, he said the city looks closely at zoning and how different uses fit together. “You have to be intentional about how you grow,” Plybon said. “You have to look at the data and make sure what you're doing makes sense not only today, but for the future.”

That planning also extends to housing, an area Plybon said will need continued attention. A countywide Housing Needs Analysis completed by WEDC in 2024 identified a five-year need in Orrville for 103 additional for-sale homes and 28 rental units across a range of price points, with the greatest ownership need in the $200,000–$350,000 range. Much of the city's recent housing development has focused on infill opportunities rather than large new subdivisions, including homes completed by Wayne County Habitat for Humanity. Plybon said the city is exploring opportunities to potentially partner with Habitat for Humanity on additional homes as it continues looking for ways to expand Orrville's housing options.

While new development may be the most visible sign of a community’s progress, Plybon emphasized that growth also depends on the city services working behind the scenes every day. From electric, water and sewer utilities to streets, parks, police and fire protection, he said providing reliable, quality services is an important part of creating a community where residents want to live and businesses can operate and grow. “You can talk about economic and community development, but you have to have the basic services in place to support it,” Plybon said.

Providing those services has increasingly meant doing more with less. Plybon said staffing across the city has declined over the past five to 10 years, while the work required of its departments has not. He described Orrville’s employees as “top notch,” pointing to crews that respond quickly when an electric line goes down, street employees who also maintain parks and other public spaces, firefighters who routinely respond beyond their scheduled hours and police officers who continually train and seek new ways to better serve the community. While Plybon would eventually like to add employees in some areas, he said he is cautious about creating positions unless the city can sustain them long term.

Public safety is one area receiving particular attention. Plans are underway to renovate Fire Station No. 2 near the cemetery, aided by a $750,000 federal grant secured with assistance from Congressman Max Miller. As fire and EMS calls continue to increase, Plybon said the city is also evaluating the department’s long-term staffing needs, which have evolved from a traditionally volunteer force to a strong part-time crew. He also praised the Orrville Police Department, noting continued investments in training, equipment and technology, many made possible through grants and improvements accomplished within the department’s existing budget.

Maintaining those services while planning for the future does not come without challenges. Plybon said city leaders continue to evaluate Orrville’s long-term financial needs, including the possibility of asking voters to consider an additional 0.5% municipal income tax to help support future fire department staffing and facility needs. He stressed, however, that no decision has been made and that the city will carefully review the financial data before moving forward.

Financial considerations, however, are only one of the challenges Orrville has faced in recent years. In August 2024, a flash flood swept through portions of the city, with water rising rapidly over a roughly two-hour period and impacting homes, businesses and infrastructure. Nearly every city department responded as the community worked through the unexpected emergency. The city experienced an even more difficult loss in January with the death of Power Plant Superintendent Bruce Lab. Plybon described Lab as an important leader who was expected to play a significant role in the future of Orrville's utility operations, making his loss both personal and professional for city employees.

Through those challenges, Plybon said he has gained an even greater appreciation for the employees, first responders, businesses and residents who step up when the community needs them most. And while the past two years have brought difficult moments, Orrville continues to look ahead, planning for new development, investing in its downtown and preparing for the needs of the next generation.

Plybon said serving as mayor has also given him an opportunity to see Orrville from a different perspective. He describes the community as a “city of treasures,” some obvious and others residents may pass every day without realizing just how special they are. Those treasures can be found throughout the city, from the bike trail and trailhead, where Orrville Cycling is preparing to relocate downtown, to Orr Park’s pool and splash pad, where Plybon once worked as a lifeguard and later served as pool manager, new pickleball courts, longtime Fourth of July traditions and a downtown sprinkled with antique shops, boutiques and locally owned businesses. But for Plybon, Orrville’s treasures aren’t limited to places. They also include the people, stories and connections that have shaped the community, and his own life, over the years.

Plybon’s connection to Orrville runs deep. Born at Dunlap Hospital in 1967 and raised in Orrville, he spent approximately 32 years in education, 10 as a teacher and 22 as a principal, before retiring and eventually finding his way to the mayor’s office. What is technically considered a part-time position has become what Plybon describes as a “full-time commitment,” but one he finds extremely rewarding. “When you’re from Orrville, it’s in your blood,” Plybon said.

Perhaps some of the treasures Plybon values most, however, are the people behind the community. Serving as mayor has allowed Plybon to interact with residents across generations, from a recent conversation with a 103-year-old Orrville resident to reconnecting with his first-grade teacher, now in her 90s, while campaigning. The former teacher, an artist, even remembered Plybon’s childhood interest in art and later gave him a book of her paintings. Today, he keeps books and artwork created by Orrville residents in his office and shares them with visitors as examples of what people from their own community can accomplish.

With a mayor who has “Orrville in his blood,” it’s safe to say the city will continue to be a place where progress and tradition not only meet, but where residents, businesses and the community can thrive.