A Sustainable
Pathway to a More
Peaceful Future
ManCo is committed to eco-friendly property management. Explore our green initiatives for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and community engagement in Dayton.
Our Environmental Consciousness
Vision Statement
ManCo believes that strong neighborhoods are the foundation of a healthy community. Our vision is to develop an environmental consciousness to guide us toward a more sustainable way of living and doing business.
By following the ManCo golden rule – “Always do the right thing!”- we aim to inspire the community to follow our lead and join us in advancing our quality of life by being good steward-leaders with our built environment.
Improving Sustainability
in Our Workplace
We recognized that becoming leaders of good stewardship practices had to begin with our own house. To improve the energy efficiency and lower the carbon footprint of the ManCo office space, and reduce dependency on fossil fuels, we committed to implementing a significant plan for change. In 2024, we produced 43% of our own electricity through our solar grid and reduced our gas consumption by 8%.
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- Conduct a weatherization inspection to identify and repair energy loss areas
- Redesign the electrical panel and circuits to take advantage of internal solar grid
- Replace shingle roof with newer energy-efficient shingles
- Install solar grid designed to produce 90% of our average monthly electrical use
- Install a dual heat source system to offload some gas heating demands to a heat pump system
- Install an EV car charger powered by the solar grid with free access to employees
- Conduct a lighting assessment of the campus to eliminate wasteful or unnecessary lighting
- Embrace LED lighting technologies both inside and outside the office
- Make efforts to improve our recycling of office materials and packaging by employees
Empowering Our
Clients & Tenants
Our opportunity to significantly impact the environment is multiplied exponentially when we consider that in our role as a property management company, we can influence hundreds of property investors and tenants who occupy the units we manage across the city of Dayton. This role involves continuous education of our clients and promoting our own story of participation in sustainability. Some of our goals explicitly related to this activity area include the following.
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- Reduce the dependency on fossil fuels while reducing energy costs for owners/tenants
- Educate and enlist owners to participate in sustainability efforts
- Develop relationships with build partners in the Dayton area to take advantage of property maintenance and weatherization programs
- Encourage and assist tenants to apply for weatherization subsidies where appropriate
- Enhance the value of owner assets by providing more timely maintenance and improvements
- Maximize owner investment by taking advantage of community and federal investment dollars
- Improve education and training of maintenance personnel to be energy-aware
- Share our solar design and implementation experience with owners for consideration
Investing in
Our Community
Inspired by Huffman Prairie and other local metro parks, ManCo decided to allocate a portion of its campus for enjoyment by the community. The visioning process began with creating an urban meadow to beautify the area that will evolve with an increase in the variety of wildflowers, grasses, birds, insects and other pollinators that will populate the meadow. The project’s second phase was to formalize plans for creating a community pocket park that will serve the neighborhood both as a spot for respite and education. Thus, the ManCo Urban Meadow Community Park was born. Multiple grants from community organizations have helped bring this dream to reality.
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- Beautify the area by converting the empty/abandoned lot into a meadow that will increase the variety of birds, insects, and other pollinators visiting the neighborhood
- Improve the ecosystem by increasing biodiversity and providing a critical habitat for native flora and fauna
- Implement a solar grid for providing security lighting and other lighting at the park
- Build a viewing platform and lending library to encourage neighborhood use of the park
- Commission a significant sculpture to attract attention to the park and the importance of pollinators
- Link park signage to educational websites discussing biodiversity and sustainability
- Develop programming that will encourage park utilization and promote neighborhood gatherings
- Make company resources available for consultation and design assistance to encourage similar projects in the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor
ManCo Urban Meadow
Community Park, A Mission-Based Project
From Meadow to Community Gathering Space, Inspired by ManCo’s Environmental Consciousness Movement
Inspired by the natural beauty of Huffman Prairie and other local metro parks, ManCo dedicated a portion of its campus to create an urban meadow and community park. First planted in the Spring of 2022, the meadow is flourishing with a vibrant array of wildflowers, grasses, and pollinators. The next phase is underway, transforming this green space into a welcoming park for the community to enjoy.
At the east end of the property, a repurposed storage shed is being transformed into a cozy viewing area and local lending library. An expansive deck wraps around the shed, providing access from both ends and featuring built-in wooden benches and fixed metal seating. Here, visitors can relax with a book, soak in the beauty of the meadow, or simply connect with nature. The deck also serves as a versatile space for small gatherings and intimate musical performances.
Welcoming visitors from the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor, eye-catching signage at the western edge of the meadow is illuminated by solar-powered lighting. The sign shares information about the park’s purpose and emphasizes the importance of urban green spaces.
Adding artistic flair, a vintage weathervane featuring a replica of the Wright Flyer (circa 1981) adorns the shed’s roof, a nod to the rich history of Huffman Prairie and the Wright Brothers’ achievements. A captivating metal sculpture, symbolizing pollinators and the flying dove image of the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor, graces the park sign, further connecting the park to the community’s vision for peace and environmental harmony.
Building a Legacy:
The BEE and Our Community
The BEE was designed in collaboration by esteemed architect Terry Welker, FAIA, and artist Katherine Sacksteder. It takes inspiration directly from the delicate form of a bee’s wing and is meant to symbolize flight and inspire a spirit of hope within the community.
This project reflects our shared commitment to enriching the cultural landscape of our city, and it is our hope that it becomes the first of many and a cherished landmark for Manco, Salem Avenue Peace Corridor and the City of Dayton.
Meet the Artists
Discover the creative minds who brought the vision of The BEE to life,
drawing inspiration from nature and community.
Terry Welker, FAIA
Terry Welker, AIA is an architect/artist living in Kettering, Ohio. He began his formal education in fine art but later moved toward architecture. Upon completing his graduate work as a Wolfson Fellow at the University of Cincinnati in 1987 he continued teaching design and drawing at UC for several years. An award-winning architect, he opened his own office in 1994 and created the Archetype Gallery serving artists of the Miami Valley. Today, as a distinguished Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, his teaching background, gallery experience, and architectural knowledge in design and structure all inform his work as a sculptor.
Katherine Sacksteder
Nature has always been my anchor, a source of both inspiration and introspection. I place it on a pedestal—elevating its forms, patterns, and quiet wisdom—stripping away the unnecessary to uncover its true essence. Through my work, I strive to inspire and uplift, creating iconic, symbolic pieces drawn from the world around me. Each design is both a personal reflection and an invitation— an offering of hope, resilience, and connection to something greater than ourselves. Dayton is my hometown and after living abroad for more than 30 years, I have come home. It is an honor and privilege to have been invited to collaborate on this beautiful and inspiring project. May the Urban Meadow be the first of many.
Katherine is originally from Dayton, Ohio and is a graduate of the Gerda Jez Foundation in Merida, Yucatan, MX. Her work can be found in private collections in the U.S.A., Mexico and France.
Resources for
Environmental Stewardship
The Urban Meadow Project
Educates and raises awareness about sustainable land care practices that support wildlife and human life.
Native Plant Finder
Find native plants and butterflies based on the research of Dr. Doug Tallamy.
National Wildlife Federation
Explains how to certify your wildlife habitat and the requirements for doing so.
Backyard Ohio
Provides information on creating a wildlife habitat in your backyard, including food, water, shelter, and places to raise young.
Bruckner Nature Center
A non-profit organization that promotes wildlife conservation through exhibits, programs, and nature trails.
Marianist Environmental Education Center
Provides educational programs, outreach, and a nature preserve to promote environmental awareness and stewardship.
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist
Offers a program to become a volunteer naturalist in Ohio, involving education and community service.
Deeply Rooted Landscapes
A company offering landscaping services with a focus on native plants and sustainable practices.
Indigenous Landscapes
Provides education on ecological restoration and sells native plant seed mixes.
Little Free Library
A nonprofit organization that promotes book sharing through a network of small, outdoor libraries.
Featured Investors
Become a Pollinator: Invest in the ManCo Urban Meadow Community Park
ManCo invites you to become a financial pollinator and invest in this model project and valuable community asset. Just as pollinators in the meadow stimulate plant growth, your financial support will help ManCo in ongoing programming, maintenance and enhancements, ensuring that this neighborhood park flourishes while enhancing the beauty and biodiversity of the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor. Here’s how to contribute:
Send your donation
Make your check payable to the Salem Avenue Business Association (a 501(c)(3) organization) and mail it to 1905 Salem Avenue, Dayton, OH 45405.
Designate your gift
Include a note with your donation specifying that it is for the ManCo Urban Meadow Community Park.
Spread the word!
Encourage your friends and neighbors to join you in supporting this community project.
All investors/pollinators will be recognized at the park’s dedication event and on a permanent plaque displayed in the park. Thank you for helping us create a vibrant and sustainable community space!
Questions? Contact Jule Rastikis at ManCo Property Services: 937-654-4887 or jule@mancopropertyservices.com.
“ManCo believes that strong neighborhoods are the foundation of a healthy community.
Our vision is to develop an environmental consciousness to guide us toward
a more sustainable way of living and doing business.”
ManCo’s Vision Statement
Better Dayton Property Management is Our Goal
If it’s a property managed by ManCo, life just got better.