City of Akron Announces Fourth Annual Akron Parks Week May 9-15
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Stephanie Marsh, Chief Communications Officer
Published: 04-18-2022
Akron, Ohio, April 18, 2022 — The City of Akron, Akron Parks Collaborative, Keep Akron Beautiful, and presenting sponsor The Davey Tree Expert Company are thrilled to announce the fourth annual Akron Parks Week, May 9-15, 2022.
With the goal of rallying the community around improving and utilizing Akron’s public parks and green spaces, the annual Akron Parks Week is a celebration of the playful, historic parks across Akron. Throughout the week, corporate volunteer groups from FirstEnergy and Keller-Williams Realty will join City staff at Waters Park (169 East Glenwood Avenue) for various beautification projects.
On Saturday, May 14, the City will host a community event at Elizabeth Park (40 E Lods St.) from 12-4pm featuring live music, tree planting, craft and art projects, volunteer opportunities, and more. Food trucks from International Jerk and Jenuine Cuisines will be on site as well as 4 Bros and a Sis Lemonade Stand. Food and lemonade will be available for purchase. Live music from Red Rose Panic will be showcased on the Showmobile stage from 1-3pm. Admission is free. Bring a chair or a blanket, grab some food, plant a tree and enjoy some live music! The rain date is set for Sunday, May 15 from 12-4pm.
To register for tree planting, landscaping and mulching, general park clean-up, or garden/food forest clean-up, please click here. Volunteers are asked to register for a shift (12-2pm, 2-4pm, or 12-4pm) and select the number of people in the volunteer group. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gardening gloves for their shift. The City’s Parks Maintenance Superintendent as well as Recreation and Parks staff will be working with volunteers to plant roughly 100 trees in the park, including a fruit orchard and a mix of native species. To vote on which kind of fruit trees get planted click here. Shovels and tools will be available for use courtesy of Keep Akron Beautiful, the City of Akron and The Well CDC’s Community Tool Library.
“During Akron Parks Week, we’re inviting neighbors to explore their local parks, find opportunities to shape our shared public spaces, and rediscover the places that truly make Akron unique,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “The residents in the Cascade Valley Neighborhood have shown their commitment to Elizabeth Park and have put in the time and effort to make it a great park for their community. That type of engagement is what truly drives an enhanced and thriving public space that best fits the needs of the area it serves, and that's what Parks Week is all about.”
Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning at Davey Tree, said the company was excited to participate in the celebration. “Healthy trees generate so many benefits for the neighborhoods they serve,” she said. “Research has shown that people who spend time outside are healthier and happier, so we are delighted to encourage the Akron community to get outside and enjoy the area’s beautiful parks.”
This year’s event would not be possible without the support of a variety of community partners. The City of Akron would like to thank the following:
Sam’s Club of Cuyahoga Falls
House of LaRose
The Well CDC ‘Community Tool Library’
Living Water Association, UCC
Friends of Elizabeth Park
Wild Woman Designs and Consulting
The Big Love Network
“I want to thank all of our partners for adding their support to Akron Parks Week,” said Akron Parks Collaborative Executive Director Bridget Ambrisco. "From our presenting sponsor, The Davey Tree Expert Company, to our corporate volunteer groups, to each and every one of our community partners, we simply could not do it without you. Parks Week is all about engaging our communities to realize the beauty in their local parks, so having such active support from Akron residents, businesses, and organizations alike is really fantastic."
"Having been part of the winning team for the 2019 Akron Parks Challenge, we have seen increasing interest from across Northeast Ohio in supporting community engagement in Elizabeth Park and the Cascade Valley Neighborhood,” said co-founder of Friends of Elizabeth Park, Michael Anthony Howard. “When people hear that there are efforts to engage community residents in participatory projects that improve the community, the excitement is palpable. Increased community participation in City projects is exactly what Akron needs—and I think Akron Parks Week is a celebration of that! I want to especially thank Akron Parks Collaborative for their support of Akron Parks Week and Elizabeth Park."
For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please visit AkronParks.org.
For further information, contact:
Stephanie Marsh
Chief Communications Officer
Phone: 330-375-2754
E-mail: [email protected]
