On November 17th, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan held an event at Summit Lake to announce a new $2 million contribution from the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the implementation of the Summit Lake Vision Plan. This funding is in addition to the City’s previous contribution of $3 million and brings the City’s total commitment to $5 million.
Mayor Horrigan was joined by various community partners including Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville and other members of City Council, Summit Lake Resident Sandy Saulsberry, Summit County Council Representative Veronica Sims, President and CEO of Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition Dan Rice, Knight Foundation, Akron Program Director, Kyle Kutuchief, Akron Civic Commons Donor Committee Co-Chairs Bill and Becky Considine, and others.
The Summit Lake Vision Plan is a key component of the resident-led Akron Civic Commons 2.0 project to create an accessible, equitable and welcoming park for all residents and visitors. The resident-led Summit Lake Vision Plan includes a bicycling and walking trail around Summit Lake, a pavilion for family gatherings, shaded seating and swing, a canoe and kayak share, boat launch ramp and a concession stand.
"This investment represents the priorities of my administration toward building trust and authentic relationships with neighborhood residents and advancing equity in our community parks, trails, and open spaces,” said Mayor Horrigan. "All residents, regardless of their income, race, education, or experience deserve outstanding public places for recreation and relaxation. The federal American Rescue Plan presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for cities like Akron to address both longstanding inequities and pandemic-induced hardships. Using these federal funds to realize this citizen-driven vision will provide our residents, especially our children, with spaces where they can experience the beauty of nature and connect with one another in a vibrant and healthy environment, right here in their own neighborhood."
The total commitment and cost of the Summit Lake Vision Plan is $10 million, with additional funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, County of Summit, Ohio & Erie Canalway, State of Ohio, and individual donors. Akron Civic Commons 2.0 is coordinated by Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, in partnership with the City of Akron, and they serve as the fiscal agent and project manager for the Summit Lake Vision Plan and Lock 3 Park.
President and CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, Dan Rice noted, “We are extremely humbled and honored to partner with the City of Akron and Summit Lake neighborhood residents on this transformational park and public space project at Summit Lake. Through this resident-led collaboration, we are co-designing, co-creating and co-stewarding accessible, equitable and welcoming parks, trails and open spaces for everyone.”
“Summit Lake Vision Plan is outstanding example of what happens when community organizations come together to seek understanding while listening and reverse the legacy of things being done ‘to and not with’ the community, and ‘promises made and not kept,’” Council President Margo Sommerville said. “Summit Lake is all about delivering on citizen-driven priorities to advance the health and wellbeing of our neighborhoods, including those that have rarely seen this kind of investment.”
With this additional $2 million commitment from the City of Akron, phases I and II of the Summit Lake Vision Plan will be constructed in 2022 and 2023. The fundraising campaign for Akron Civic Commons 2.0 continues with the goal of raising an additional $10 million for Summit Lake phase III, Locks 2, 3 & 4, Play Loop in downtown Akron and an endowment for operations and maintenance.
For more information about donation opportunities and Akron Civic Commons 2.0, please contact Dan Rice, at drice@ohioeriecanal.org or (330) 374-5657.
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