Innerbelt Events
Nearly 200 community members gathered at the new Ed Davis Community Center on January 8, 2025, for the first Community Meeting of the Innerbelt Master Plan. This meeting marked a shift from documenting the past to envisioning the future.
Mayor Shammas Malik addressed attendees, highlighting the importance of inclusive planning and announcing a $10 million Federal Reconnecting Communities Grant to help implement the plan’s concepts.
The open house featured three interactive stations where attendees could share input and learn from the planning team. At one station, community members reviewed technical analysis and shared personal experiences. At another, residents reflected on the places and institutions shaping Akron’s history and culture. The final station invited participants to provide feedback on the vision statement and guiding principles for the Master Plan.
Phase 1 Innerbelt Events
Former Resident Focus Groups
Date and Time: Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 11am-1:30PM
Location: Williams Tower
Former Resident Focus Groups
Date and Time: Monday, August 8, 2022, 10am-3PM
Location: Callis Tower, Belcher South, Edgewood Village
Former Resident Focus Groups
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 11am-1:30PM
Location: Saferstein II and I
Akron Innerbelt Reunion
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 28, 2022, 1 - 5 PM
Location: Akron Urban League
Rubber City Jazz Festival @ the Innerbelt
Date and Time: Saturday, September 10, 2022, 11AM-2PM
Location: Akron Innerbelt (between the Towpath and Center Street Bridges, park at the Wills Lot)
Open Streets @ the Innerbelt
Date and Time: Saturday, October 1, 2022, 12PM-4PM
Location: Akron Innerbelt (between the Towpath and Center Street Bridges, park at the Wills Lot)
Innerbelt History Collection - Launch Event
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 6 - 7 PM
Location: Zoom, Livestream on YouTube
Ward 8 Meeting
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 6:30PM
Location: Northwest Community Center
High School Focus Groups
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 11:30AM-12:30PM
Location: STEM High School, National Inventors Hall of Fame
Akron Urban League Young Professional Focus Group
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 6:00pm
Location: Buckingham Law Firm
Ward 5 Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 5:30PM
Location: Zoom
Ward 4 Maple Valley Meeting
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 6:30PM
Location: Lawton Street Community Center
Former Resident Focus Group
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 2:45pm – 4:00pm
Location: Williams Tower
Ward 1 Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 6:30PM
Location: Balch St. Community Center
Former Resident Focus Group
Date and Time: Saturday, April 8, 2023, 1:30pm
Location: Edgewood Village
Former Resident Focus Group
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 3:00pm – 4:00pm>
Location: Belcher Apartments
Ward 3 Meeting
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 20, 2023, 5:30PM
Location: Wooster Branch Library 600 Vernon Odon Blvd
Presentation at St. Ashworth Bible Study
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 7:00-7:45PM
Location: St. Ashworth Temple Church
Senior Focus Group
Date and Time: Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 2-3PM
Location: Saferstein Towers II
City Council – Planning and Economic Development Committee
Date and Time: Monday, December 4, 1:00PM
Location: Online, Council Chambers
Elevate Akron
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 6, 10AM-11AM
Former Resident/Senior Focus Group
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 6, 3:15PM-4:30PM
Location: Williams Tower
Urban League Young Professionals Group
Date and Time: Thursday, December 7, 6PM-8PM
Engagement Stations
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM>
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Ohio and Erie Canal Park Community Concert Series
Date and Time: Saturday, August 27, 2022, 6-8 PM
Location: Callis Tower Pavilion
Labor Day Festival - Joy Park
Date and Time: Saturday, September 3, 2022, noon
Location: Joy Park Community Center
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center<
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 4 - 5:30 PM
Location: Summit Lake Community Center
Downtown Fall Movies
Date and Time: Saturday, October 15, 2022, 6:30-7:30pm
Location: Mocha Maiden Parking Deck
FallFest
Date and Time: Saturday, October 22, 2022, 5-9pm
Location: Cascade Plaza
Downtown Akron Diwali Festival
Date and Time: Sunday, October 23, 2022, 6-9pm
Location: Cascade Plaza
Smells Like Snow Festival
Date and Time: Saturday, November 5, 2022, 12-5pm
Location: Cascade Plaza
Akron Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival
Date and Time: Saturday, April 15, 2023, 4-8pm
Location: Lock 3
Black Excellence Art Festival
Date and Time: Saturday, May 27, 2023, 12-8pm
Location: Hardesty Park
Juneteenth Celebration at the Akron Urban League
Date and Time: Friday, June 16, 2023, 2-6PM
Location: Akron Urban League
West Akron Parade
Date and Time: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 1 pm
Location: John R Buchtel CLC
2023 Juneteenth Community Talk Back
Date and Time: Saturday, June 17, 4-7PM
Location: John Brown House
Joy Park Juneteenth
Date and Time: Monday, June 19, 2023, 12- 5pm
Location: Joy Park Community Center
Downtown Akron Partnership Annual Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 6, 6PM-8PM
Akron Metropolitan Housing Association Community Action Network Residential Meeting
Date and Time: Friday, December 8, 10:30AM-11:45AM
Location: AMHA