INSIDE AKRON: Akron Documenters are fanning out across the city’s 24 neighborhoods to elevate places, faces, voices and vibes — as shared by the people who live there. Expect a new profile every day through October.
Correction: Leggett Community Learning Center is located in the University Park neighborhood. NIHF Stem High School is located in East Akron. A previous version of this story incorrectly listed this information in a chart.
University Park might be Akron’s most-walked neighborhood. At least, that’s true of the several blocks that encompass the University of Akron, which take up the most real estate in the area.
Waves of college students trek daily on foot from off-campus apartments to classes and nearby eats. Others live elsewhere, but matriculate at Akron’s namesake institution of higher learning, mere minutes from downtown Akron.
So if University Park encompasses a four-year university, which by nature sees its students come and go like the seasons, how would one describe the neighborhood?
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE: Tony Gosmer
Since 1998, Tony Gosmer has educated hundreds of fourth-grade students at Leggett Community Learning Center, located at 333 E. Thornton St.
What’s something most people don’t know about University Park that you think they should?
“There’s a little area over here called Boss Park,” Tony said. “It was beautified, got connected to Leggett. Now we have green space. So the kids have the jungle gym, the swings, the slides and a pollinated garden, and there’s natural rock. We planned that because there isn’t a lot of green space in this neighborhood.
“This was the first year that we had the wildflowers, and we had the weirdest drought. The pollinated garden really didn’t produce a whole lot. I’m hoping next year it really gets established.”
What is missing from your neighborhood?
“When I started here,” Tony said, “this was a neighborhood school. A lot of families lived in the neighborhood. There were probably rental homes, but more people were vested in the neighborhood. A lot of those homes are now corporate student housing for Akron U.”
He wants these college students to be more invested in University Park, from cleaning up litter to calling out younger residents.
“They’re college kids,” he added. “They’re doing their four years. Hanging out. Partying. I did it when I went to Kent [State]. But I reflect on that now; I could have been a better community partner. I just wish there were more eyes to say, ‘Hey guys. Wait. Don’t do that.’”
Where is the University Park neighborhood in Akron?
University Park is located directly east of downtown Akron. This neighborhood is home to the University of Akron and its athletic facilities, EJ Thomas Hall and the Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. Tap House.
What’s the biggest challenge facing your neighborhood, and how do you think it can be solved?
“When they closed the Grant Street exit [I-77 and I-76],” Tony said, “that changed the traffic patterns around here. Now everybody’s flying down Thornton Street. And this used to be just a sleepy, little neighborhood. And now that people are cutting down Thornton to get to Arlington, or vice versa … it has really created a problem of speeding through a school zone.”
Tony wants to see the city install a speed table or speed bumps on East Thornton Street.
“Because they really do fly down Thornton,” he added. “I tell the kids, ‘When you’re on the corner, you have to be paying attention. Because these cars, they’re not paying attention to the speed laws; they’re distracted. You guys have to be careful.’”
NONPROFIT PERSPECTIVE
Phoenix Performing Arts, 263 E. Mill St.
Founder and Executive Artistic Director Amber Coughlin and Executive Director Paige Lyon
Tell us the purpose of your nonprofit
They said Phoenix Performing Arts is a theater company for local youth. Founded by Coughlin in 2020, the group made its home in University Park in 2022 in a building owned by First United Methodist Church of Akron.
While the congregation no longer holds services there, it rents space in the building to Phoenix, Fair Housing Contact Service Inc. and Helping 2 Overcome Systems, a group that supports adults and children facing mental health challenges. Phoenix uses the multipurpose gym and stage area for rehearsals and theater productions.
In addition to programming for school-age children, the organization recently introduced Hatchlings, a preschool program that younger children can attend with their caregivers. Phoenix also offers afterschool programs for students from Fort Island and Arrowhead primary schools, both part of Copley-Fairlawn City Schools.
How does your organization support University Park?
Lyon said Phoenix parents have shared concerns about unhoused people who are sometimes in the area in the evenings, but, she added, “They’re humans and they need to be treated with dignity.”
Coughlin added that churches are typically places of safety, so it makes sense that unhoused people would migrate there.
“I would love to see [the city] address something like that: something open 24/7 where there are restrooms they can use, where they have places they can charge their phones,” Lyon said. “You’re not going to address the unhoused population by trying to pretend they don’t exist or pushing them somewhere else. You need to address it by giving them what they need.”
Phoenix plans to offer pay-what-you-can tickets for Saturday matinees during its mid-January run of “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at Tallmadge High School.
Lyon said another way Phoenix makes theater accessible is with American Sign Language interpreters — included as part of this summer’s production of “Wizard of Oz.”
What’s the most interesting thing about University Park?
With Phoenix centrally located in University Park, not far from state Route 8, Lyon said it’s easy for families to bring their children to participate in programs.
“I do feel like we pull people into this community,” Coughlin said. “If we want to keep improving it, that’s what we have to do.”
What is missing from this neighborhood?
The university’s young adults, Coughlin said.
“There’s so many cool kids at Akron U; I kind of want them to involve themselves more in the immediate surrounding community,” she said. “There are so many things within walking distance, like the library, the art museum, new breweries. There’s things to do if they just walk, like, two more blocks this way.”
How has University Park changed since you’ve been here?
Since Phoenix moved into University Park, Coughlin said, the theater company has worked to improve the facility. She’s noticed other organizations trying to elevate the neighborhood.
“The churches surrounding us are all feeding off each other and bringing life into this area,” she said. “They’re focusing on helping nonprofits and other community organizations. They want to make sure stuff gets done and that the world’s a better place.”
What is your favorite part of running an organization in this neighborhood?
“We have a wonderful space open to us here, and if we can stimulate the community to continue putting energy into it, we will have a really great place for not only kiddos to come, but maybe young adults and older adults,” Coughlin said. “It’s not tucked away — it’s right on the main drag — and that makes it accessible to a large quantity of people. The more people we can bring in and get excited about what is here, the better for the community as a whole.”
What should the community know about Phoenix?
Phoenix’s programs are open to all young performers, no matter their level of previous experience, Coughlin said.
“We don’t turn kids away,” she said. “We will meet you where you are.”
Public space shoutout:
Grace Park
Located on Perkins Street, Grace Park was founded in the mid-1800s and named after Grace Tod Perkins, the wife of Akron’s co-founder, Col. Simon Perkins. The seven-acre park was once used for political rallies, community concerts and picnics. It was originally surrounded by residences that, over the years, were demolished.
Today, Grace Park features benches, a running/walking track and a small playground.
