The area around Akron’s Summit Lake has a new look and is ready to welcome visitors just in time for the warmer months.
Summit Lake NorthShore Park opens to the public Saturday. Construction on the area north of the 100-acre lake began in April 2025. New amenities include a large covered pavilion and two picnic shelters, a boathouse with concessions and free kayak and canoe rentals, a fishing pier, an accessible canoe and kayak launch, a boat launch, waterfront seating and firepits.
Planning for the new park started about 10 years ago after discussions with area residents, said outgoing Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition President Dan Rice.
“What we heard from neighborhood residents is [that] they wanted to really activate the lake and the land around the lake as a destination for family gatherings,” said Rice, who will retire at the end of June. “Everything that you see there is something that the neighborhood residents themselves have requested.”
Thanks to local community partnerships, Summit Lake has undergone a transformation in recent years. Grills and benches were installed and areas around the water were cleared to provide better access for fishing and boating. In 2021, Summit Metro Parks opened a nature center in a converted historic pump house.
A paved 2.25-mile trail around the lake was completed in 2023, connecting the neighborhood’s east and west sides. The trail also connects to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which spans 93 miles from Cleveland to New Philadelphia.
The total cost for the park came in at around $8 million, Rice said. Funding came from local, county and state governments as well as local foundations and individual donors. NorthShore Park is owned by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The City of Akron operates the park through a licensing agreement with ODNR.
A long-term vision for an historic Akron lake
Throughout the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, Summit Lake played an integral role in the Ohio & Erie Canal as boats using the canal had to pass through the lake. From 1917 to 1958, it was the site of Summit Beach Park, a popular amusement site.
However, the lake was also the site of mass pollution, and the neighborhood was divided by highway construction that targeted minority communities.
“When industry came in, they basically pumped water out of the lake, and then they pumped the dirty water back into the lake,” Rice said.
Today, Summit Lake is open for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, boating and paddleboarding. Swimming isn’t allowed, but Rice said that has more to do with infrastructure and safety (lifeguards would need to be hired, and beaches would need to be created) than water quality.
NorthShore Park is just the latest development in the long-term vision for Summit Lake. The plan, Rice said, was always to develop all of the area around the lake. He added that future plans could include additional amenities and improvements around the lake’s western side.
“In many ways, Summit Lake right now is seeing a revival,” Rice said. “Our goal is that it’s a public space that is accessible, equitable and welcoming for everybody, and that regardless of your age, your income, gender, education or experience, everybody deserves high-quality parks, trails and public spaces, and everybody should be welcome in them.”
