University Park looks to proclaim its identity

Neighborhood brand

University Park looks to proclaim its identity

Akron Beacon Journal Editorial

Published on Sunday, Feb 14, 2010

The University of Akron has undergone a dramatic transformation the past decade, increasingly becoming a strategic asset downtown. Cities build around their assets. Thus, the city of Akron and the University Park Alliance wisely have embraced the challenge to develop a distinctive community in the neighborhood surrounding the university. The campaign launched last week by the alliance, aiming to ''brand'' the area, using the slogan, ''Do Something Great Today,'' seeks a sense of cohesion and definition, making it much easier to attract new residents, investors and enterprises.

The university serves as a focal point for the 50-block area becoming known, appropriately, as University Park. The neighborhood is diverse in every way, with a large student population along with established families. The area has a mix of housing, new and old; a range of small businesses and several of the largest employers in the Akron area.

The vibrance developing in the University Park neighborhood is evident with the growth at the university in recent years as well as in planned capital projects including the joint YMCA and Summa Health System facility at City Hospital, new housing developments off campus, street improvements and renovations to parks and other public spaces.

According to the alliance, more than $15 million has been invested to date in rejuvenating University Park. That is support worth sustaining and enhancing. A distinctive character will help.

The University of Akron has undergone a dramatic transformation the past decade, increasingly becoming a strategic asset downtown. Cities build around their assets. Thus, the city of Akron and the University Park Alliance wisely have embraced the challenge to develop a distinctive community in the neighborhood surrounding the university. The campaign launched last week by the alliance, aiming to ''brand'' the area, using the slogan, ''Do Something Great Today,'' seeks a sense of cohesion and definition, making it much easier to attract new residents, investors and enterprises.

The university serves as a focal point for the 50-block area becoming known, appropriately, as University Park. The neighborhood is diverse in every way, with a large student population along with established families. The area has a mix of housing, new and old; a range of small businesses and several of the largest employers in the Akron area.

The vibrance developing in the University Park neighborhood is evident with the growth at the university in recent years as well as in planned capital projects including the joint YMCA and Summa Health System facility at City Hospital, new housing developments off campus, street improvements and renovations to parks and other public spaces.

According to the alliance, more than $15 million has been invested to date in rejuvenating University Park. That is support worth sustaining and enhancing. A distinctive character will help.