Akron, Ohio (October 8, 2024) - Akron is among 10 cities receiving investment from Reimagining the Civic Commons - a collaboration of national foundations and civic leaders dedicated to revitalizing public spaces in ways that benefit communities - which is its third round of investment to revitalize and connect the communities along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail through meaningful public engagement and investment in parks, trails and public spaces.
Since 2016, Reimagining the Civic Commons has worked with a network of leaders across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to change how they design, manage and program urban public spaces. The initiative's innovative model supports cities to invest in public spaces like parks, trails, community centers, libraries and public gardens in ways that deliver critical social, economic and environmental benefits.
The next phase of the initiative is funded by the JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. These national funders will allocate nearly $10 million to be used over the next three years to support teams of civic leaders in 10 cities to transform public spaces in ways that counteract harmful trends facing America, from social isolation to economic segregation to climate change. Cities receiving funding from this round of investment are Akron, Ohio; Camden, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Lexington, Kentucky; Macon, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and San Jose, California. The cities will use the investments to create or enhance a variety of civic spaces, including trails, parks, community centers, neighborhood main streets, active transportation corridors and public gardens.
In Akron, these investments are focused across three civic assets - the Civic Gateway (downtown), Ohio & Erie Canal Park, and Summit Lake neighborhoods. Akron Civic Commons projects, including the Summit Lake Vision Plan and Lock 3 Vision Plan, are locally supported by investments from the City of Akron, Senator Sherrod Brown, Akron Children's Hospital, Summit County Government, FirstEnergy Foundation, State of Ohio, GAR Foundation, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, and many individuals. Akron Civic Commons is administered by the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, who convenes community collaborators and supporters which include neighborhood residents, the Akron Art Museum, Akron Civic Theatre, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Akron Zoo, Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, ArtsNow, Downtown Akron Partnership, Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, METRO Regional Transit Authority, National Center for Choreography-Akron, Summit Lake Community Development Corporation, Summit Metro Parks, and the University of Akron.
"Through our resident-led design process, we are truly co-creating, co-designing, and co-stewarding accessible, equitable and welcoming parks, trails and public spaces for residents and visitors to Akron and the Ohio & Erie Canalway," stated Dan Rice, President and CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, convener of the Akron Reimagining the Civic Commons project.
Concurrent with the investment announcement, Reimagining the Civic Commons also released reports showing impacts in three cities. Based on data-gathering efforts over eight years, the reports demonstrate that collaborative public space efforts in Akron, Detroit and Memphis are improving neighborhoods and lives. Impacts include an increased number of visitors to public spaces, visitors lingering longer in those spaces, visitors interacting with new people, an increased belief in the importance of civic space to communities and support for greater funding of the public realm. These investments are not only changing the public spaces but also elevating social connection, building trust and generating hope for a better future.
In Akron's Summit Lake neighborhood between 2017 and 2023, the percentage of residents who trust local institutions nearly doubled to 57%.
"For decades, we have seen an increase across America in social isolation and loneliness, and a decline in people's participation in civic life," said Bridget Marquis, director of Reimagining the Civic Commons. "Yet in these cities, people are connecting across differences of income and race, engaging in local community life and becoming more hopeful about the future. After nearly a decade of collaboration and change, it's clear that intentionally managed public spaces are part of the solution to re-stitch America's communities and strengthen our democracy."
Learn more about the Akron Civic Commons online at civiccommons.us/akron or akronciviccommons.org, or by contacting Dan Rice at drice@ohioeriecanal.org or (330) 374-5657.
