The City of Akron, Akron Parks Collaborative and Wild4Ever Announce New Opportunities to Improve Your Neighborhood Park

Mayor Dan Horrigan | City of Akron Official website

By Akron Reporter Report

Jun 12, 2023

Akron, Ohio — The City of Akron has been working in partnership with Akron Parks Collaborative (APC) to revitalize our neighborhood parks since 2018. On June 8, APC is launching a new website at www.akronparks.org to better communicate the organization’s mission and provide access to important information. A new logo and strategic plan are featured. APC is also featuring two new ways they want to work with neighborhoods to improve city parks.

1. Work with APC on a Micro-Grant or “Nature in Your Neighborhood” Grant

Akron Parks Collaborative is known for the Akron Parks Challenge; which invites residents to pitch their vision for how to improve their favorite Akron park by collaborating with their neighborhood to support design, implementation and upkeep. Through this program, over $2,000,000 of city and private dollars have been invested in neighborhood parks since 2018.

This year, APC and the City of Akron are pleased to announce two new award opportunities:

The Akron Parks Collaborative Micro-Grants supported by the City of Akron

Akron Parks Collaborative and the City of Akron are offering small grants to neighborhood residents and groups for park improvement projects. Grants will be awarded for between $1,000 and $10,000 with a total of $20,000 in funds available. Projects must be physical improvements to parks including but not limited to seating, landscaping, animal attractants (such as butterfly houses), kiosks, signage, artistic elements, and play features (such as chess tables, disc golf, cornhole).

The Nature in our Neighborhood Grants funded by the Wild4Ever Foundation

Additionally, two $5,000 grants from Wild4Ever will be awarded by APC for projects helping to support native wildlife and native flora in a City of Akron park. Neighborhood awardees will work with APC to design the park “wild space,” which is expected to include creating new native plant areas and could include installing animal attractants like butterfly houses, bat houses etc. and seating.

For more information and to apply, please visit akronparks.org

2. Tell us how we can support you and your neighborhood around your shared space

Listening Sessions: To better serve individuals and groups interested in stewarding their city parks, Akron Parks Collaborative will be hosting several listening sessions throughout the city this month. Those interested are encouraged to attend so that they can: