The City of Akron has announced a list of sites that will be open for the upcoming solar eclipse. For residents trying to avoid the anticipated traffic on April 8, one of the sites may be close enough to walk to.
All residents may need to do is throw on some comfortable clothes, grab a few lawn chairs and blankets and head out to watch the eclipse alongside their neighbors.
Nine community centers will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although there will not be any programming for the day, there will be approximately 200 pairs of eclipse glasses available at each center. The centers will be open for restroom use or to warm up (it is Akron in April, after all).
Suggested Reading
The sites are Ellet, Firestone Park, Joy Park, Kenmore, Lawton Street, Mason Park, Reservoir Park and Summit Lake community centers, as well as Northwest Family Recreation.
Registration is not required to go to the community centers for the eclipse.
Some venues require registration
The Patterson Park ballfields, the Akron Fulton Airport ballfields, the Copley Road Soccer Complex and Prentiss Park will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. for the festivities, but each site is limited to 300 guests. Registration is required, and guests will be provided with eclipse glasses.
View a map of all the community center and park sites here.
The city will also host a celebration in the parking lot behind Spaghetti Warehouse, at 510 S. Main St. Attendees can enjoy a balloon artist and juggler, a reptile show, face painting, music and more.
Registration is free, but there is an option to purchase a reserve parking space for $10. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase. Attendance is limited to 2,500 registered guests, who will receive an “eclipse bag” complete with the special glasses and other items.
Wherever residents choose to view this phenomenon, they should have a safety plan in place and pack extra snacks and water.
