Akron Celebrates Grand Reopening of Lock 3 Park with $17 Million Makeover and Festive Drone Show

Akron is gearing up for a festive grand reopening of its beloved Lock 3 park, with the downtown area poised to reveal its extensive $17 million facelift after years of redevelopment efforts. As reported by

WKYC

, Mayor Shammas Malik, during a press conference, expressed his enthusiasm for the park’s rebirth, stating, “We are ushering in a new era for downtown Akron with the transformation of Lock 3.” The grand reopening celebration, set for November 29 at 6 p.m., is anticipated to be a vibrant showcase of the city’s commitment to communal spaces, featuring a ribbon cutting, music, ice sculpting, Akron’s first ever live drone show, and opportunities to lace up skates and hit the ice.

Lock 3’s transformation, primarily funded by the American Rescue Plan Act dollars, includes shaded seating, landscaped gardens, artwork, and skating areas designed to create a welcoming and accessible year-round park for residents and visitors alike. The ambitious endeavor is detailed on

WKYC

, outlining the city’s strategic planning and investment to enhance community life. In the words of Mayor Malik, Akron residents “deserve world-class facilities,” and the refurbished Lock 3 Park aims to be just that.

According to

cleveland.com

, the redesigned area now boasts the Frances and Richard Buchholzer Balcony and the Maynard Performance Pavilion, honoring local philanthropic legacies and creating a versatile venue for events of varying scales. Additionally, the park has involved community input in its design process, as Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition President Dan Rice told cleveland.com, highlighting the integral role of Akronites in shaping the venue. The park now features over 35,000 native plants and over 100 native trees, aligning with the city’s vision of a nature-infused urban retreat.

The upcoming celebration also marks the start of Lock 3’s winter season, with visitors enjoying new amenities like ice bikes, ice bumper cars, and the option to rent an igloo for intimate gatherings, as per

Signal Akron

. Mayor Malik proudly proclaimed at the press conference that the redesigned Lock 3 is no longer just a summer festival venue but a park welcoming anyone throughout the year, signaling a significant shift in the city’s landscape and communal approach.

In parallel to the Lock 3 transformation, Akron celebrates the revitalization of the Ed Davis Community Center and the inaugural of Fire Station 12, alongside the innovative Akron Leaf Removal online dashboard, all part of the city’s broader growth narrative, soothingly reminding the residents that Akron is not just renewing but reviving with vigor and inclusivity.

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