akron assetsciviccommons.us/app/uploads/2018/01/akron-team-presentation.pdf · connect the civic...
TRANSCRIPT
AKRON ASSETS
Civic Gateway, Park East & Summit Lake Park –
linked by way of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
New leadership offers the opportunity to bring fresh
ideas and energy to assets.
STRATEGIES
Connect the civic assets with each other & the surrounding neighborhoods.
“Prototyping to Permanent” civic engagement method.
Cultivate & teach community leaders to embrace ethic of community engagement, prototyping, &
test to learn model.
Build working groups in each asset to focus on development of civic assets while coming
together to cross physical & mental barriers.
PARTNERS & ROLES
Core Partners: Akron Civic
Theatre, Akron Metropolitan
Housing Authority, City of Akron,
Downtown Akron Partnership,
Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition,
Summit County Government,
Summit Metro Parks
Community partners with
capacity, passion & experience in
collaboration. Missions align with
work of Civic Commons.
Team expanding as we engage
partners throughout civic assets.
FUNDING SOURCES
Project? Investment?
TIGER Grant $5 million
Akron Waterways Renewed! $800 million
Downtown Akron Vision & Redevelopment Plan $60,000 (2016)
Trust for Public Land Survey $195,300
Gehl Studios Public Space/Life $180,000
Pump House Redevelopment $75,000
The Bowery $33 million
More than $5 million of matching funds for Civic
Commons have been documented by our core team
and local foundations. Along with these matching
funds come many complimentary projects ranging
from multi-year plans to data collection.
THE BOWERY
BIGGEST CHALLENGES1. Engaging all levels of
staff at partner organizations
2. Implementation with speed
3. Balancing workload to avoid burnout
BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES
1. Implementing “new way of doing business.”
2. Changing perceptions of stakeholders.
3. Demonstrating best practices in environmental sustainability.
QUESTIONS FOR FELLOW CITIES
How do you structure conversations with community partners for “yes?”
Do your partners have concerns of gentrification?
What are your challenges and opportunities regarding meaningful civic engagement?
Photos in presentation from Tim Fitzwater, Shane Wynn, Bruce Ford, City of Akron and Ohio & Erie Canalway.