You can help efforts to revitalize public spaces in downtown Akron by hanging out in the city’s center and watching folks.
Volunteers are needed Thursday and Saturday to observe and record how people use public spaces as part of the ongoing Reimagining the Civic Commons project, funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
“We’re watching people in the public space so we can learn how better to create the space, make it more inviting for them,” said Suzie Graham, president of the nonprofit Downtown Akron Partnership, a partner in the Reimagining Civic Commons project.
The idea, she said, is to suggest changes based on those observations, and determine how effective improvements are.
For the study, volunteers will use methods developed by the Gehl international urban design company to help evaluate how people are using public space.
Volunteers will record pedestrian counts as well as document what people are doing downtown, checking off such categories as sitting, exercising and waiting for the bus. Volunteers will note what type of objects, such as a chair or window well, on which people are sitting.
Volunteer shifts are four hours and take place outside in various spots downtown. Volunteers are still needed for these shifts: 8 a.m. to noon and 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The biggest need is for Saturday volunteers, said Kimberly Beckett of Downtown Akron Partnership.
All volunteers must attend a training from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Downtown Akron Partnership offices on the fourth floor of the Greystone Building at 103 S. High Street in downtown Akron. A light dinner will be provided.
To sign up to volunteer, go to http://bit.ly/2ep4Jgb or call 330-374-7676.
Each volunteer will be assigned a spot in downtown Akron to observe.
Akron was one of four cities nationwide — and by far the smallest — to win a $5 million Reimagining the Civic Commons competitive grant to help revitalize public spaces in and near downtown. Part of the effort is to reduce segregation of office workers and those in struggling areas south of downtown.
A coalition of four national foundations is funding the grants: the JPB Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Kresge Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation.
Information gathered through the volunteers also will be useful as the city rebuilds South Main Street downtown, using a $5 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. The city has said this grant and state and local money will be used to pay for the first phase of its Downtown Akron Promenade project.
This project will involve adding bike lanes, new sidewalks and a roundabout at Mill Street. City leaders hope to begin construction in the fall of 2017, after design and engineering work is done.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com.