AKRON, Ohio – Two parks near downtown Akron will receive facelifts over the next year based on designs pitched by residents and funded by two $100,000 grants.

The city announced Elizabeth Park and Park East, also known as Canal Park, as the winners of the 2019 Akron Parks Challenge at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Akron Parks Week.

For the second year in a row, the city of Akron and Akron Parks Collaborative asked residents to pitch their vision for improving their favorite city park, along with their plans to rally the neighborhood around the project.

Akronite and Kent State University Professor David Pereplyotchik wrote in his application for Elizabeth Park that he wants to organize neighbors to maintain the park, which sits along the Cuyahoga River between North Main Street and Ohio 8.

“Our project aims to design and create new amenities that represent and empower the members of our community,” Pereplyotchik said.

Pereplyotchik’s submission included goals of “attracting visitors to the park, creating a joyous atmosphere and boldly signifying the community’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity.”

Akron City Councilwoman Tara Mosley-Samples, whose ward includes Elizabeth Park, said in a statement she is elated to see neighbors with a vision for the park.

“I am certain the children and parents in Cascade Village and the surrounding North Akron community are going to be excited by the future of their neighborhood park,” Mosley-Samples said.

A team led by Thomas Fuller, head of nonprofit affordable housing developer Alpha Homes, submitted the winning proposal for Park East, located near West Bartges Street and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

The group wants to implement improvements that would attract more neighbors to the park with well-lit “safe haven” areas for play and recreation that allow residents to immerse themselves in nature.

“Racism has historically limited movement of African-American residents to distant natural settings, even if they had the means to travel,” Fuller and his team wrote in their application. “Residents of low-income neighborhoods are also discouraged from utilizing nearby city parks due to legitimate safety concerns… These fears and concerns must be addressed and corrections devised to increase park usage and allow Canal Park to become the community resource it has the potential to become.”

Applications were reviewed by the Akron Parks Collaborative and representatives from Akron City Council, the Knight Foundation, Akron Civic Commons and Summit County Historical Society. Submissions were judged based on feasibility, sustainability, equity and impact on the neighborhood.

“The entire selection committee was thrilled by the levels of creativity and innovation but also by the thoughtful inclusivity and community cooperation we saw across applications,” said Bridget Ambrisco, executive director of the Akron Parks Collaborative.

Over the next several months, the city of Akron and the Akron Parks Collaborative will begin working with the winners to plan community engagement activities, including public meetings, and surveys.

Last year’s winners were Kenmore’s Chestnut Ridge Park, Cadillac Triangle Park in southwest Akron and Reservoir Park in Goodyear Heights.

Improved lighting and electricity has been installed at Chestnut Ridge Park’s amphitheater and pavilion, as well as a new playground, Ambrisco told cleveland.com. A walking trail is on track for completion this summer.

A new walking trail was added to Reservoir Park, and a playground and plaza area are scheduled to be built this summer.

At Cadillac Park, a brick walkway was installed by a contractor alongside Buchtel CLC masonry students. Seating areas and landscaping will be introduced to the greenspace this summer, Ambrisco said.

“Our city parks are places to foster connectedness, build wellbeing and shape our community,” Mayor Dan Horrigan said in a statement. “We are proud that through the Akron Parks Challenge we can see those goals realized thanks to empowered citizens with innovative ideas who are ready to help meet the unique needs of their neighborhood.”

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