Local history: Patterson Park building was center of North Hill community

Patterson Park Community Center will soon be demolished to make way for a larger, modern facility. The old one certainly had its share of memories.

It was 60 years ago when Akron officials announced plans in October 1963 to create a new park along Patterson Avenue on North Hill.

“I think Patterson Park will be the most active park and recreation area in the city,” Akron Planning Director Julian Suso predicted.

More: Patterson Park Community Center will soon be torn down, reborn in community's image

Councilman Joseph Costello was a driving force behind the park’s development. Initial plans had called for a shelter house, but Costello insisted on a community center.

He suggested naming the park for President John F. Kennedy in the wake of his November 1963 assassination.

“I think this park represents everything President Kennedy stood for,” Costello said. “It will be an area for sports, an area where families can find peace together and an area open to everyone.”

A group of North Hill residents lobbied to name the park for Costello, but ultimately, Patterson Park is the name that stuck.

The city cobbled together 20 acres between Ontario Street and Perdue Avenue. More than half of the land came from the purchase of Ontario properties belonging to Edna Firick and Alberta Huff.

The city also bought A.A. Hoffman’s sheet metal shop on Perdue and acquired the former homes of the Tish, Tipton, Thomas, Everett and Steger families on Patterson Avenue. Ohio Edison gave up 2.3 acres to the cause.

Cleveland planning consultants and landscape architects George Stolar and Charles L. Knight drew up blueprints for a split-level community building, playground, picnic area, sledding hill, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts and — at the request of the neighborhood’s Italian American residents — boccie courts.

The total cost of the project, including the purchase of land, was about $550,000. That amounts to more than $5 million today.

Community center contracts awarded

In 1965, the city awarded contracts to C.B. Cavanaugh Landscape Co. and Tallmadge Electric Co. for park facilities.

The recreation area was supposed to be completed in the summer of 1966, but there were delays. With funds running low, the city imposed a moratorium on capital improvements. A building trades strike further delayed the work. The city didn’t even have money to staff a building.

“Give us the building and we’ll find a way to take care of it,” Costello told the City Council.

Slowly there was progress. In 1967, the Farinacci Construction Co. built the 5,526-square-foot community center at 800 Patterson Ave. for $114,000. Secondary contractors were W.P. Leffler Plumbing, XXth Century Furnace Co., Ray Electric Co. and P&C Landscaping Co.

Patterson Park opened in stages. Mayor John S. Ballard announced that children could use the playground and basketball courts even though construction hadn’t been completed.

“It’s hard to explain to a child why he can’t use a facility that seems to him to be perfectly all right,” Ballard noted. “It isn’t fair to try to keep him from using that facility.”

There were plenty of imperfections. The baseball diamond’s outfield was 6 feet lower than the pitcher’s mound. The boccie courts were about a dozen feet short of regulation. The tennis courts were uneven. The wood siding split while the community building was under construction.

But kids loved that park.

Contractors worked on repairs until virtually the last moment. Finally, city officials dedicated the community center Nov. 24, 1967.

Mayor Ballard and Councilman Costello were among the well-dressed dignitaries who toured the facilities, posed for photographs and surveyed the sloping grounds through large windows.

At last, North Hill residents could enjoy their new park. The recreation area and community center became a blur of activity.

The Patterson Park Woman’s Club had weiner roasts. The Patterson Park Girls Club held sleepovers. The Patter-Ettes Baton & Drum Corps practiced twirling. The Plus 50 Club sponsored activities. The Singin’ Seniors put on shows. The North Akron Board of Trade talked business.

There were kiddie carnivals, pet shows, orchestra concerts and movie nights. There were billiards leagues, table tennis tournaments, roller-skating lessons, and arts and crafts programs.

There were zoomobile stops, helium balloon launches, ballet dances and arm-wrestling championships. There were ceramics classes, gymnastics programs, children’s clinics and PTA luncheons.

There were Christmas parties, Easter egg hunts, Labor Day rallies and Halloween costume contests.

The North Hill community packed a lot of good times into that little building. In 1991, the city dedicated a 2,774-square-foot addition to the center, bringing its total size to 8,300 square feet.

Ground broken on Patterson Avenue

After 55 years, Patterson Park Community Center will be torn down for a new building.

Mayor Dan Horrigan and other city officials broke ground Oct. 12 on a one-level complex that will measure 12,400 square feet. The new center will have meeting rooms, a multipurpose room, game room, art and gardening room, a new outdoor playground and new parking lot.

The larger building will have space for volleyball, basketball and pickleball.

The $7.8 million project is expected to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025. The money will come from Akron’s capital budget and American Rescue Plan Act economic stimulus funds that the city received in 2021.

Before proceeding, planners sought input from the neighborhood’s Bhutanese, Nepali, Myanmar and Congolese families on the new center. This is the building they wanted.

“Revitalizing our public spaces is vital to our city’s future and I’m proud to break ground today on this latest investment into our neighborhoods,” Horrigan said at the ceremony. “I know the renovations being done here will make this center more accessible to residents and will become a cherished community asset for many years to come.”

New memories will be made at Patterson Park Community Center.

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com 

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Patterson Park building was center of North Hill community