The Akron Parks Challenge invites neighborhood residents, leaders and organizations alike to pitch their vision for how to improve their favorite Akron park. APC supports selected applicants in engaging the rest of their neighborhood to support design, implementation and upkeep. Through this program, over $3,000,000 of city and private dollars have been invested in neighborhood parks since 2018.
The 2024 Akron Parks Challenge application period has closed
We are currently reviewing applications for the sixth Akron Parks Challenge! Two parks will be selected to receive up to $150,000 in city-funded, community-inspired improvements. Judging criteria rates; equity, community engagement capacity, and project feasibility. Announcements will be made by the end of June 2024.
Proof that when we come together we can make a difference in our community.
3,000,000+
DOLLARS INVESTED SINCE 2018
15+
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IMPROVED
1,500+
HOURS INVOLVED
The Project Journey
Through online surveys, door to door conversations with neighbors, events to prototype ideas and talk to people, and public meetings, each neighborhood decides on improvements. Below is what the journey looks like for the Akron Park Challenge projects.
Before Improvements
Community Engagement, Surveys & Events
Community Team Co-Designs Improvements & Budget Then Work Begins
Improvements Completed - Time to Enjoy!
2024 Akron Parks Challenge Recipients
Sherbondy Hill
The Akron Bengals Youth Football organization uses the park now for programming and practice for 150+ youth and their families. The park currently has a parking lot and a mowed lawn surrounded by a wooded area. Their vision is to enhance the park with seating, a walking path, a pavilion and a small play space to promote a family atmosphere for both the organization and the neighborhood.
We are currently in the process of engaging the community to inform the core team’s decision-making.
The award to Prentiss Park comes on the heels of another victory at APS and TomTod’s 2024 Changemaker Challenge. A team of 8th graders from Innes CLC (which sits adjacent to Prentiss) took first place at this competition in May, receiving $4,000 from Akron Community Foundation to bring their proposed park improvements to life.These students plan to remain involved as they enter High School and continue to work with their teachers and other community members. First Glance, South Street Ministries, Better Kenmore and Councilwoman Tina Boyes were all part of the application to work together, “to reimagine Prentiss Park in a way that leverages Kenmore’s assets and programming partners to make it more of the intergenerational meeting space that Kenmore wants and so desperately needs,” according to their application.
We are currently in the process of engaging the community to inform the core team’s decision-making.
Initiated by a donation from the Pucci family, APC started working with South Street Ministries, Summit County Public Health, the City of Akron and previous Akron Parks Challenge applicant now Ward 5 City Councilman, Johnnie Hannah to piece together funding to improve Morgan Park in South Akron. With a smaller budgeted amount for the Akron Parks Challenge in 2023, funding was allocated to Morgan Park with smaller Micro-grants awarded to other parks.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Playground in partnership with KaBOOM! and CarMax Cares
3 basketball courts repaved, with new backboards and hoops installed
Perimeter trail repaved
Pavilion with stone pillars built through the Buchtel CLC Masonry Program
Seating chosen by the community and designed with Hazel Tree Interiors
Located in the University Park neighborhood and adjacent to Leggett Elementary, many partners worked together to expand and recreate this park as an outdoor classroom, nature space and mental health oasis including the City of Akron, Akron Parks Collaborative, Neighborhood Network, a program of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, Leggett CLC/Akron Public Schools, University of Akron ZipAssist, KGK & Co., and University Park Neighbors.
Expanded the park to include a city-owned vacant lot to connect to Leggett CLC
Two outdoor classroom spaces that can also serve every day neighborhood use
Native prairie areas to encourage wildlife reintroduction and birding opportunities
Nature play area
Additional funding was provided by Dominion Foundation, Kubota, Akron Tractor & Equipment, Summit County Land Bank, Summit County Public Health, The Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation and Kathy Salem
We will be officially cutting the ribbon on September 19
HYRE/LIONS PARK in Ellet
Hyre and Lions Park are both beloved neighborhood parks in the Ellet neighborhood. Several neighbors teamed up with Hyre CLC, the Ellet Community Center and the Ellet Library Branch to dream about needed upgrades to the park that would support neighborhood vibrancy.
More gathering spaces in Lions Park including a pavilion, a shade sail and several bench swings
Exercise equipment in Lions Park
A locally-made sign welcoming all into Lions Park
A new swingset in Lions Park
An outdoor classroom along the trail in Hyre Park
2021 Akron Parks Challenge Recipients
JEWETT PARK
Jewett Park is the only park in the Middlebury neighborhood. Located on a dead-end street, it was not well maintained and barely used due to safety issues. Guided by LINKS Community and Family Services with partners Neighborhood Network (a program of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County) and Summit County Public Health, the neighborhood provided input and direction on the design for the park.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
The park is filled with families most days after school
LINKS’ Youth Ambassadors are helping to maintain the park and gardens
Over a 3-day period, neighbors and partners volunteered to help build a new playground, create new landscaping, build raised garden beds and plant many trees.
An art piece which also serves as a bike rack and park entrance sign was conceived of and designed by the core team guiding the park design
Additional funders included Summa, Summit County Public Health and neighbors who participated in LINKS organized walk-a-thon.
KERR PARK
In the fall of 2021, a new playground came to life as a KaBOOM! project. The project was led by the Summit County Think Tank Coalition. Through surveys and other community conversations the design for the park reflects the idea heard countless times that the neighborhood wants it to be like it was “back in the day”. Digging deeper, they want a community gathering place that is safe, inclusive and full of laughter and opportunities to talk to and know their neighbors.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
A resurfaced, re-fenced tennis court with pickleball options
Picnic tables and benches chosen through community voting
West Akron Little League rallied to keep the baseball diamond as they re-activated their organization
Additional funders included GAR Foundation and Summit County Public Health
2019 Akron Parks Challenge Recipients
ELIZABETH PARK
The park is on Lods Street in Cascade Village and sits on the Little Cuyahoga River near N. Howard Street. The community team went to the rest of their neighborhood through surveys, door to door conversations and park events to determine the park improvements they want within a $100,000 budget. Final decisions were made by a community leadership team.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Basketball is almost constant now with the new basketball goals and glass backboards
Other completed projects include; Nature Play, 2 pavilions, walkways, benches, and picnic tables
A social justice garden has been started
Additional funding was provided by Kenny/Obayashi, Akron Community Foundation, and the Living Water Association
OHIO & ERIE CANAL PARK
This park is part of the Akron Civic Commons between downtown Akron and Summit Lake. Funding from the Challenge went toward a new playground build in 2019 in partnership with KaBOOM! Akron Civic Commons, John S. and James. L. Knight Foundation, and Keurig/Dr. Pepper.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Neighborhood kids and adults helped design the playground
A sport court was part of the project allowing for basketball, volleyball and tennis
The Akron Civic Commons team continues to work in and support this neighborhood
Additional funding was provided by the John S. and James. L. Knight Foundation, and Keurig/Dr. Pepper
2018 Akron Parks Challenge Recipients
RESERVOIR PARK
One of the largest parks in Akron, Reservoir Park is in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood and hosts a pool, playground, community center, basketball courts, tennis courts and baseball fields. A group of neighbors, some of whom were new to each other, applied for and formed the core team working on the park plans. Through an online survey, events and a public meeting, the top three priorities for the park were clear; a trail around the park, a new playground and creation of a new plaza space for gathering and connecting.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
The plaza space includes a firepit, large permanent umbrellas, bistro tables and Adirondack chairs
The new trail attracts daily walkers
A natural playground was built with the help of neighborhood volunteers
Grades 3-8 from Spring Garden Waldorf School painted, created art and upgraded the park during a day of service
Many volunteer groups continue to support the park beautification
Additional funding was provided by Northern Ohio Golf Charities
CHESTNUT RIDGE PARK
Many partners and neighbors in the Kenmore neighborhood oversaw the community engagement and decision making for the park upgrades. Chestnut Ridge Park hosts a WPA era amphitheater which hadn’t hosted events in years. The playground was old and worn. Through a large community event, online survey and many community conversations, the park received electricity for sound at the amphitheater, a new playground and a new walking trail.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Friends of Chestnut Ridge Park is a neighborhood group that continues to plan programs for the park, which has included movies, Shakespeare and music
Since the Challenge, a group of neighbors raised money and installed a disc golf course
Benches were designed and built through a partnership with Krunchworks Design + Build and Summit Lake Build Corps
Funding support also came from Kenmore Construction (in-kind), Summit Disc Golf Association and program support from Akron Community Foundation
CADILLAC PARK
A very large traffic triangle was transformed into a neighborhood gathering space. Cadillac Park is situated in West Akron near Buchtel CLC. Community engagement was led by Cadillac Boulevard Neighborhood Development Association by going door to door to get feedback. The park now has several perennial garden beds, brick walkways, new lighting, seating and dog bag station.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Students from the Buchtel Masonry program helped construct the brick walkways and concrete center for the park
The project included lamp posts and irrigation to support the gardens
We held a neighborhood party in the park with music and food to have conversations with neighbors who could vote on park amenities
