AKRON, Ohio — Neighborhood parks are a big part of the overall well-being of the community.

They provide a place where people can be physically active, reduce stress and make community connections.  

There are more than 100 parks in Akron. In the last six years, nearly a dozen have been revitalized or improved with the help of the Akron Parks Challenge. Morgan Park was one of them.

Now, it’s time for the city to choose two more.

What You Need To Know

  • Morgan Park was completed in 2024

  • Akron has 154 parks 

  • Two grants worth $150,000 each will be given toward improving two Akron parks

In 2023, longtime Akron resident Johnnie Hannah was driving by Morgan Park, and he didn’t like what he saw.

“This area was underdeveloped and also it had been forgotten by the city of Akron," said Hannah.

He applied for a six-figure grant through the Akron Parks Challenge, an initiative that lets the community choose a neighborhood park for improvement. In September 2024, Morgan Park opened with new basketball courts, a new playground, picnic tables, benches and a new pavilion.

“When I see that the children are playing in this part, I see that there's growth in this park,” said Hannah.

Several cities in Ohio have more than 100 parks. Cleveland has 161, Cincinnati has 380 and Columbus has the most at 422 parks. Akron has 154 parks. Ten have been upgraded through the challenge. Two more are in the planning stages.

Bridget Ambrisco, the executive director for Akron Parks Collaborative, works with organizations and the community to choose which parks get improved. She said over the years, some Akron parks have been neglected, but this challenge brings the community together.

“It's super important to revitalize these third spaces and places where neighbors can gather, where they can feel safe, where they can know each other,” said Ambrisco. “And for place for their kids to go and have something to do.”

Thirteen applications have been submitted. Two will be chosen by the board of trustees, and each park with get $150,000. Shawn Bonner, the director of Community Engagement with South Street Ministries, a partner in this challenge, worked on Morgan Park. He went door to door to see what the residents wanted.

“Most folks really spoke about the children and them not having anything to do,” said Bonner.

Since Morgan Park has been improved, he is also working on bringing events to the park to engage the community even more. He sees the work of his organization and several others in real time. There will be a dance event on June 21.

“You see all three basketball courts in use. You see the pavilion being used. You see folks on the swings and got children in the playground," said Bonner.

Now that it’s time for the next set of parks to be chosen, Hannah encourages the community to come together and be a part of something that leaves a positive mark.

“I was just a catalyst of making this part come into being. And I just I give all praise to the community," said Hannah. “And they came together, and they wanted to see something positive happen to this park.”

The two parks chosen will be announced at the end of May.

The other parks completed through the Akron Parks Challenge are Reservoir Park, Chestnut Ridge Park, Cadillac Park, Elizabeth Park, Ohio & Erie Canal Park, Jewett Park, Kerr Park, Boss Park and Hyre/Lions Park.

The Morgan Park funders were City of Akron, Carmax Cares, GAR Foundation, Pucci Family and Summit County Public Health.

Recently, Cleveland announced its parks improvement plan.

Columbus is working on a plan, and Cincinnati is currently implementing its park improvement plan.