City of Akron and Akron Parks Collaborative Announce the Akron Parks Challenge 2025

The City of Akron and Akron Parks Collaborative (APC) are announcing that registration is open for the 2025 Akron Parks Challenge with a March 22nd deadline.  This year, interested organizations, residents or motivated citizens need only register to apply with their name, email address and the name of the park that they would like to improve. Visit www.akronparks.org/akron-parks-challenge/ to register. APC will then coordinate all registrations for the same park and schedule a time to come together to host a moderated session with the opportunity to better understand the process and to workshop a joint application. Final applications will then be due by April 6th.

The goal of the Akron Parks Challenge is to engage communities around neighborhood parks to create active and vibrant public spaces by offering Akronites an opportunity to choose $150,000 worth of capital improvements for their park. 

Two parks will be selected. The groups will work with and be supported by Akron Parks Collaborative to engage and survey their neighborhood, develop a final plan, budget accordingly, and help realize the final projects. Following the completion of park improvements, APC will support the group with continued stewardship and activation of the park.

“Making investments in our neighborhoods with quality, well-maintained parks and public spaces is an essential part of the solution toward a safer and more vibrant Akron for the long-term,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “We are putting community-led design and decision-making at the core of park improvements, which leads to more active, vibrant spaces and stronger communities.”

“It is an intense process with community engagement at the heart of the work, and we are so grateful for the time and talent that neighbors give to see the projects through to completion,” states Bridget Ambrisco, Akron Parks Collaborative Executive Director.

To register for the Challenge, visit AkronParks.org by March 22nd.

This is the sixth cycle of the Akron Parks Challenge, which began in 2018 in partnership with the City of Akron, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and Akron Parks Collaborative. The total investment in the program from the City and other funding partners to date is $3,713,050.

If you have any questions or are interested in submitting, please visit AkronParks.org.