In Akron’s North Hill, students from Jennings Community Learning Center have taken an active role in transforming a vacant lot into a vibrant community playground. Known as ‘The Bowl’ due to its unique topography, this space is set to become a hub of activity thanks to the creative input of seventh graders like Emanuel Romero and Dakoda Gamble.
The project, unveiled by Akron Public Schools and Trust for Public Land, is a $300,000 initiative aimed at increasing public park access in high-need communities. Emanuel, 13, expressed his excitement, saying, ‘It’s honestly great knowing that what I’m doing, what my team is doing, is going to have an impact.’
Principal Lashawna Grimes emphasized the community-driven nature of the project, stating, ‘This was done for us and by us.’ The playground will be open to the public outside school hours, with construction expected to begin next year and completion slated for December 2027.
Community and Environmental Impact
The Trust for Public Land selected the North Hill location for its second Ohio project, continuing its mission to provide equitable access to green spaces. The organization highlights that over 28 million children in the U.S. lack a park within a 10-minute walk of their home. By converting schoolyards into community spaces, they aim to change this statistic.
Carla Chapman, APS’ chief of community relations, sees the project as a form of ‘environmental justice at work,’ transforming underutilized spaces into community assets. The design includes amenities such as outdoor classrooms, swing sets, and soccer facilities, reflecting the input gathered from students and local residents.
Support for the project comes from various sources, including the Cleveland Soccer Group Foundation, which is contributing to the soccer facilities. Trust for Public Land has already secured $75,000 and is actively fundraising for the remainder.
This initiative follows a successful pilot at Caledonia Elementary in East Cleveland, where an asphalt schoolyard was transformed into a green space, benefiting both students and the surrounding community. The Trust for Public Land has been active in the Cleveland area since 1974, contributing to various projects that enhance public access to nature.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
