CLEVELAND — City of Akron officials on Tuesday marked the start of construction on renovations to the pool and community center at Reservoir Park.
The $10 million project is expected to be finished by next summer and will feature a "completely redone" pool and a partial demolition, expansion and renovation of the community center. The project will be financed through American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“This has been a long time coming for this community and we’re so excited to get started on this transformational project,” said Mayor Shammas Malik. “This process has been done in collaboration with our community as residents have weighed in on what improvements they’d like to see and how they plan to utilize this public space. Their feedback has been critical in the design, and I can’t wait to cut the ribbon next summer on a new pool and community center.”
Upgrades to the pool will include a 15-foot slide, 25-meter lap lanes, a shallow water play space, a climbing wall, shaded areas and a new bathhouse.
The new community center will see a 4,800-square-foot addition featuring an updated entrance, multi-purpose meeting room, kitchen, art and game rooms and other gathering spaces. Outdoors, plans include more green space and seating, improvements to the pavement and an "enhanced" fire pit area.
Akron breaks ground on Reservoir Park pool, community center renovations
“Our neighborhood has been eagerly awaiting both the community center update and the pool for quite a while,” said Sharon Connor, Ward 10 Akron City Councilwoman. “The design of the pool will not only provide hours of enjoyment for our families, but it will also provide water fitness for our residents with mobility difficulties. These equitable upgrades will continue with our community center which will offer more space and flexible programming options for all our residents to enjoy.”
Reservoir Park was one of three facilities Akron residents selected as most in need of significant repair as part of a 2019 community assessment.
The Reservoir Community Center was built in 1933 and last renovated in 1990. The pool and bathhouse were added in 1968.
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