Continue to Help Us Envision the Future  

Thank you for all the great feedback received through the first phase of community engagement initiatives exploring why, how, and where people spend their leisure time and their connections to parks and water. This feedback helped develop a concept framework shared with the community on Dec. 10 at our Community Open House. Please take a look at the big ideas along with the concept framework illustrations below. The survey to share your thoughts on this version is now closed. Please sign up for more information and updates on the project and/or check back here for details on the next round of work. The next public open house to review the progression of the proposed conceptual site plan was held on Feb. 24 and information from that session will be available soon.  

Big idea concepts:

• Identify special opportunities along the water’s edge to touch and see the Cuyahoga River. Unite the points of interest as an amplified zone along the river’s edge.
• Anchor the Cuyahoga Riverfront east-west by its tributaries, streams and ponds. Stitch the site back into the wider context to allow opportunities to improve hydrological functions through restoring streams and adaptive reuse of ponds.
• Connect the former Brandywine Golf Course back into the National Park. Integration of existing NPS planning efforts for wetland mitigation as well as remediating the site through native meadow plantings and reforesting to bolster the ecological connectivity through and beyond the site.
• Shift Akron Peninsula Road away from the river’s edge to expand safe site access to the Cuyahoga River and protect the river’s edge from further erosion. Introduce traffic circles as road calming measures and tie parking into traffic circles to increase way finding towards the riverfront.
• Provide a gateway at the north and south ends to welcome visitors to the site. Locate site amenities at these locations to connect seamlessly back into local and regional context.
• Connect the site as a place for all people. Offer a range of trail experiences including connectivity to the Village of Peninsula. Create opportunities for diverse and varied park experiences that will engage new audiences.
• Learn about the rich histories of the valley and the peoples who lived, worked, and sought respite and recreation here.

Download PDF of Dec. 10 Concept Framework