Akron, Ohio, February 6, 2023 — This weekend, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, City Council President Margo Sommerville, and other City officials joined with local residents to break ground on the renovation of Ed Davis Community Center located at 730 Perkins Park Dr. Ed Davis renovations include a new gymnasium, indoor walking track, teen room, new outdoor playground, multipurpose rooms, and a new design. Construction is expected to be complete in Spring of 2024.
View the Ed Davis Community Center plan here.
“The community’s thoughts and ideas have helped shape the new vision for the Ed Davis Community Center,” said Mayor Horrigan. “American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding has enabled us to make once-in-a-generation investments into our community that will create lasting growth and positive change. When the ribbon on the new community center is cut next spring, it’ll celebrate much needed improvements and I can’t wait to see the end result.”
“The Ed Davis Community Center upgrades will reinvigorate this beloved community space,” said City Council President Margo Sommerville. “The community’s feedback was vital in the planning process, and we’ve taken that feedback and are ensuring the updates reflect the residents’ needs. Akron deserves fun, safe, and accessible public spaces and this is a big step in making that a reality.”
In 2019, the City of Akron Recreation and Parks Bureau presented the results of a community needs survey as well as a Strategic Plan to Akron City Council. The survey had over 1,500 responses from community members. That plan prioritized upgrading community centers, playgrounds, and both outdoor pools.
Community outreach was performed in 2020 with a survey which had over 500 total responses emphasizing Ed Davis as one of the three community centers in need of repair. Initial construction cost estimates for the Ed Davis upgrades are $11.5M. The entirety of the costs are being paid for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
