AKRON, Ohio — There is a lot of anticipation to enjoy the $10 million makeover of downtown Akron's Lock 3 Park.
"We probably get about 20 inquiries a day. When's it going to be open? When can I come back to Lock 3 park?" Those are the questions Dan Rice, the President and CEO of Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, told 3News he gets all the time.
The renovations began a year ago. What was promised is coming to life on time and on budget, officials said. Over 500 thousand people would flood into Lock 3 annually for concerts, festivals and events. But the past pavilion was only temporary.
"We kind of often joke it was a 20-year pop-up that was the most successful pop-up,” remarks Rice. "And all we want to do is build upon that great success, but turn it into a 365-day park."
The new Maynard Performance Pavilion is a permanent structure, with updated tech for lighting and sound. Described as one of a kind, it has three different performance spaces, from thousands of people to just a couple hundred. It's the park's main attraction.
"I think people are going to gravitate to that, to be on a stage that, we're going to hopefully have a lot of performances, but you're able to go ride your bike on it, you're able to take a walk through it," said Akron’s Downtown Operations Manager, Christopher Griffith.
Increasing accessibility is incorporated into the park's design. There is a 17-foot difference in elevation from Main Street to the Ohio & Erie Canal. Meandering paths will take visitors of all ages throughout the park.
"They don't have to look down and look for steps,” Rice said. “They can have a nice easy stroll, places to sit and really create a great oasis in downtown Akron."
Shaded areas and landscape gardens were also items residents wanted. During the winter, the park offers two ice rinks, making this a destination, drawing people and more to Akron year-round.
"The Redevelop Lock 3 park is really part of the Reinvent movement in our neighborhood," said Rice. "And also an economic driver engine, creating jobs and generating revenue for the city of Akron."
Opening day is getting closer, set for this fall. People are eager to gather in the new Lock 3.
"Once we saw those trees up there being planted, I think that kind of got the team here a little bit more like we're close. We're getting to that to that point to start planning for events for 2025,” Griffith said.
No official opening day has been selected yet, again sometime this fall. The current renovations are part of a larger plan to connect Locks 2, 3 and 4 together.