Our Community.
Our Summit Lake.

Our Summit Lake is a community planning process that aims to create a document to guide the future investments in the Summit Lake neighborhood. The document will include an easy-to-read map presenting a future vision for every property in the neighborhood.

The process is led by The City of Akron with guidance from a Resident Advisory Board comprised of Summit Lake residents. Community engagement actions will be facilitated by design firm Seventh Hill.

Project Area
The project area includes the entire Summit Lake neighborhood from Thornton Avenue, to S. Main Street, to the railroad tracks, to Manchester Road. Although the project focuses on opportunities for vacant land, the planning process will address additional resident concerns to improve quality of life in the Summit Lake neighborhood.

Project Goals
Key elements of the plan objectives include:

• Create a plan for vacant parcels, including: Private ownership; City Owned; Summit County Landbank; AMHA

• Update zoning codes to meet future growth

• Identify transportation / infrastructure improvements

• Create / upgrade public spaces

• Increase safety

Our Summit Lake is coordinating efforts with two other projects currently underway in the Summit Lake neighborhood: Akron Civic Commons and Summit Lake Choice Neighborhoods Plan.

Summit Lake is a historic and unique community, but also one that has been overlooked for far too long. AMHA’s Reach Opportunity Center has helped provide a neighborhood hub with access to educational and life services and a platform for community organizations to work together to support all residents of the community reach their goals.

The Akron Civic Commons has helped to rebuild trust and bring real improvements to the community. The process has been driven by community members and focused on improving the public spaces around Summit Lake. With the success of the Civic Commons and its focus around the lake, many Summit Lake residents have been asking “What about the rest of the community?” 

The Summit Lake Choice Neighborhoods Plan and Our Summit Lake are responses to this question and a chance for residents to actively write the story of their future. These efforts build on the relationships and investments from the Akron Civic Commons work. Like the Akron Civic Commons, the goal is to bring real, positive change to Summit Lake that is driven by the residents. 

What is Akron Civic Commons?

• Community-led planning process resulting in the Summit Lake Vision Plan

• Several projects initiated and completed to date:

  • Summit Lake Beach

  • Refurbishment of Summit Lake Pump House into the Summit Lake Nature Center

  • Kayaking and boating facilities 

  • Ohio & Erie Canal Summit Lake trail

  • Summit Lake Vision Plan

• Planned future investments include:

  • 2.5-mile trail around the lake connected to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail (Construction start anticipated Fall 2021)

  • Development of the Summit Lake NorthShore (Construction start anticipated in 2022)

What is Summit Lake Choice Neighborhoods?

• Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) and the City are engaged in a two-year planning process to create a resident-led plan to improve the neighborhood and the lives of residents of Summit Lake.

• The plan is also focused on how to improve or redevelop the aging Summit Lake Apartments operated by AMHA.

• Through the Choice Neighborhoods process, AMHA seeks to preserve affordable housing in the community.

• The plan will be created with residents, local leaders, businesses, nonprofits, and institutions working together with AMHA and the City to identify areas for improvement and investment, like vacant property, housing, businesses, parks, streets, services, and schools.

• The Choice Neighborhoods program includes funding to complete a resident-identified neighborhood project(s) during the planning process.

• After the Plan is complete, the AMHA and the City will apply for Choice implementation funding to make the plan happen.

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