Community Partners to Cut Ribbon for Co-designed Boss Park This Week

Akron, Ohio, September 16, 2024 - On Thursday, September 19 at 1pm the City of Akron and Akron Parks Collaborative will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the redesigned Boss Park (555 Sumner Street).Boss Park is now an outdoor classroom, nature space and mental health oasis, adjacent to Leggett CLC, an APS elementary school.

Through a year-long intense community engagement process facilitated by Akron Parks Collaborative and project partners, a plan was created to expand the park with a city-owned vacant lot to connect Leggett CLC to the park. Teachers from the school informed the design, while neighbors and University of Akron students provided input on making the space for everyday use.

Improvements to the park include 2 outdoor classroom spaces including an amphitheater space and circle seating under a shade sail, growing native plant meadow areas to encourage birds, insects and other wildlife, a drinking fountain (for humans and pets), a nature play space, a new kiosk for neighborhood announcements and walkways and areas to enjoy and sit in the park.

This Thursday, partners will officially open the new expanded park by cutting the ribbon to invite Leggett students and neighbors into the park. Speakers will include representatives from the City of Akron, Akron Parks Collaborative, Neighborhood Network, a program of Habitat for Humanity, Akron Public Schools, and University of Akron.

The park revitalization was made possible with funding and partnership from The City of Akron, Akron Parks Collaborative, Neighborhood Network, a program of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, Leggett CLC/Akron Public Schools, Dominion Foundation, Kubota, Akron Tractor & Equipment, Summit County Land Bank, Summit County Public Health, The Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation, Kathy Salem, University of Akron ZipAssist, KGK & Co., and University Park Neighbors.

For more information, please visit the Akron Parks Collaborative Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/akronparks or akronparks.org.