AKRON, Ohio — Years ago, Summit Lake in Akron was a great gathering spot for the community. At one point, it was even home to an amusement park, but as time went on, the area slowly fell to the wayside.
Dan Rice, the president and CEO of Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition, explained the highway has cut off the neighborhoods around the area.
“In many ways, we’ve actually turned our back on Summit Lake,” said Rice.
Now, the city and the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition are working together with Summit Lake residents to bring new life back into the area with a $10 million initiative.
“The number one project we are working on is a trail all the way around this lake. You can go to any lake in this country and there is a trail all the way around the lake, not just down one side. The second thing we are going to do over on the north shore is we are going to activate that area, maybe with a canoe, or a kayak, or bike share, fishing, another pavilion, or maybe a concession where you might be able to get an ice cream on a day like today, or a cup of coffee, or a sandwich,” said Rice.
Sandra Saulsberry has been living in Akron since 1982, and says she has seen the decline in Summit Lake over the years.
“Until this process began, I never came down here and enjoyed a cup of coffee — there was no place to do that. But now, we have that, so I’m hopeful that this is going to be something that people won’t just visit, but it will have people wanting to come and live in this community,” said Saulsberry.
This project relies heavily on community feedback and input. Officials say they want to make Summit Lake a destination for residents who live in the area.
“The process is letting me know that they are not coming in here to do something and hope we like it. They have asked us what we want to see and they are actually listening, and what we have asked for, we are now seeing we are looking at the results of that conversation, so it gives me hope and I can’t wait to see what it will look like when it is all finished,” said Saulsberry.
A majority of the construction should take place at Summit Lake over the next two to three years.
