The new Lock 3 finally has an opening date.
The City of Akron announced Thursday that the downtown park will open Friday, Nov. 29. The official opening celebration will start immediately after the annual Welcome Santa Parade, which steps off from Main and Exchange streets at 6 p.m.
The redesigned Lock 3 features shaded seating, landscaped gardens, artwork, two skating areas and a performance pavilion that seats up to 3,500 people. The approximately 3.2-acre park is located on Main Street between Bowery and State streets and sits along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
Construction on Lock 3 began in June of 2023.
“Over the last three years, we have worked to transform Lock 3 from a summertime festival and concert venue to a 365-day-a-year park, where anyone can come and enjoy the space any time of the year,” Mayor Shammas Malik said at a Thursday press conference. He went on to say that construction on the park is almost complete.
The grand reopening celebration will feature a drone show, ice carving and ice skating. Favorite holiday characters, including Santa and the Grinch, will be onsite for photo opportunities.
The Lock 3 redevelopment cost $17 million, with the majority of funding coming from the City of Akron and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Organizations and individual donors contributed the remaining $5 million.
The grand opening marks the beginning of Lock 3’s winter season. Visitors to the outdoor space can enjoy ice skating, ice bikes and ice bumper cars. Attendees can also rent an igloo for small group gatherings.