Akron Civic Commons aims to create a safe, welcoming space for Summit Lake residents

Summit Lake residents were used to organizations making empty promises when it came time to revitalizing the area.

Residents of the once-thriving community say they have dealt with blight, population loss and a lack of trust in community organizations who never took the time to talk to them to understand their idea of an ideal Summit Lake neighborhood.

Thanks to the Akron Civic Commons program, a national initiative led by the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition (OECC), residents say they have began to trust that outside organizations are sincere when they say they have the community's best interests at heart.

"Summit Lake was a community that has time and again been misled and mistreated by outside or local interests that spoke of the importance of engaging the community and listening to what residents want, but never fulfilling any promises of change," OECC President and CEO Dan Rice said. "The Akron Civic Commons initiative involves a resident-led process where they've told us what they want to see and our intention is to make that happen."

What is Akron Civic Commons?

Akron Civic Commons pulls together community organizations to focus on the 3-mile stretch of the Ohio & Erie Canal and Towpath Trail from Akron's downtown to Summit Lake Park.

The Akron Civic Commons initiative stems from the Reimagining the Civic Commons program, a national initiative focused on the idea that a connected set of community assets — a civic commons — can generate more equitably shared prosperity across cities and neighborhoods, according to its website. The initiative aims to foster engagement, equity, economic development and environmental sustainability. It started in 2016 with a pilot program in Philadelphia.

Akron was chosen as a demonstration city along with Chicago, Detroit and Memphis. This program expanded to include San Jose, California; Miami; Minneapolis; Lexington, Kentucky; and Macon, Georgia.

The program is sponsored by the Knight Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, the JPB Foundation as well as the Miami Foundation.

OECC was chosen to lead the Akron Civic Commons project due to its history of successfully conducting community engagement sessions. OECC was charged with enacting the program in three sites: Summit Lake, the Civic Gateway downtown and the Ohio & Erie Canal Park. The private, nonprofit organization was originally awarded $5 million to change the Civic Commons into a shared space accessible for everyone.

"We've had some experience working with the local community and organizing resident-led engagement sessions and we were selected to lead this program thanks to that experience," Rice said. "We've been working with residents on this initiative for years to create a safer and more welcoming Summit Lake, and I'm proud that we were selected to head this endeavor. The Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative aims to foster a sense of belonging and togetherness in a community where distrust runs rampant, and engaging with the residents and doing the work to listen and understand them is a way for this sense of togetherness to evolve."

What organizations are involved with Akron Civic Commons?

Participating organizations include:

• Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.

• Downtown Akron Partnership.

• Alpha Phi Alpha Homes Inc.

• City of Akron.

• Students With A Goal (SWAG).

• Kenmore Neighborhood Association.

• Akron Civic Theatre.

• Akron Community Foundation.

• Akron Metro RTA.

• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.

• Akron Zoo.

• ArtsNow.

• GAR Foundation.

• Knight Foundation.

• The Millennial Theatre Project.

• National Center for Choreography at the University of Akron.

• Summit County government.

• Summit Lake Building Corps.

• Summit Lake Community Development Corp.

• Summit Metro Parks

• The University of Akron.

What has Akron Civic Commons done so far to improve the Summit Lake neighborhood?

The Akron Civic Commons has improved amenities around Summit Lake, including installing lake-facing benches, fire pits, grills and improved seating and a pavilion area for Summit Lake Apartments residents to congregate. These amenities are focused steps away from the apartments, in front of the Reach Opportunity Center.

Portions of overgrowth were removed so residents have greater access to the lake, and the Summit Lake Nature Center was installed in an old pumping station, thanks to Summit Metro Parks, a community partner.

The Akron Civic Commons has also established programming for Summit Lake residents, including nutrition and canning classes, as well as a community garden and weekly farmer's markets by Let's Grow Akron. Summit Metro Parks has created fishing, crafting, children's activities and volunteer opportunities as well.

What's planned next for Summit Lake?

Construction is underway on a bicycle/walking trail that wraps around the lake and connects the Summit Lake and Kenmore communities with the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Other plans include the creation of the Summit Lake North Shore park, installation of artwork, a boat ramp, more shaded seating, a concession stand and more programming for residents of all ages.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter, @athompsonABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Civic Commons aims to establish trust with Summit Lake residents