Local group petitions for Hillcrest Avenue to be designated “Ohio Players Way”

DAYTON — A group is petitioning to have Hillcrest Avenue designated “Ohio Players Way” after the iconic funk group that originated in Dayton.

The group, which has been around since the 50′s, still has members living in Dayton, and the brother of Chet Willis, lead guitarist, is spearheading the effort for the name designation.

“Growing up, listening to my brother and the Ohio Players play, I always admired him,” Jeffery Willis said.

Willis said they chose Hillcrest because at the corner of Hillcrest and Salem sits a white building. The same white building the Ohio Players did a lot of their practicing and rehearsing.

“Hillcrest and Salem Avenue is an iconic location for Dayton and the Ohio Players,” Willis said.

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Some of their most famous songs like “Fire” and “Skintight” were practiced in that building. And the Ohio Players themselves are in support.

“They’re all ready, gung ho, get up and get going,” Willis said. “Whatever they need to do to make this a success.”

Willis and other volunteers are now petitioning to have Hillcrest Avenue designated “Ohio Players Way”.

Kenneth Marcellus, the City of Dayton Community Development Specialist, said Willis will need to get signatures from property owners, letters of recommendation and then go in front of the City Commission.

For the people who live on Hillcrest Marcellus said, “It won’t change the name of the street so they don’t have to worry about changing their address.”

Willis and other volunteers will be going door to door to ask property owners on Hillcrest Avenue to sign the petition.

They will need 51% of property owners to sign and are looking for volunteers to meet them at the corner of Hillcrest and Salem at 5 p.m. on Thursday to help with door-knocking.

They ask that all volunteers wear a mask.

If Willis gets the signatures, the designation could take up to 90 days.

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