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Akron Parks Collaborative highlights $1.2M raised, asks council to spread word on new park challenge
Summary
Akron Parks Collaborative president Derek Stone said APC has brought in $1.2 million in non-city funds, helped improve 20 parks and is launching a parks challenge to award another park; council discussion cited city investments that have unlocked additional park funding.
Derek Stone, president of the Akron Parks Collaborative, used public comment time at the Akron City Council meeting to outline APC’s recent accomplishments and to ask councilmembers to help publicize an upcoming park challenge.
Stone said APC has brought in $1,200,000 in non-city funds over the past eight years, supported improvements in 20 parks, helped establish 17 Friends-of-Parks groups and secured $55,200 in private grants in 2025. He asked councilmembers to share information with constituents and to invite APC to ward meetings as it selects a final park for its year-end challenge.
Mayor Malik and council members noted the city has invested in parks and described the city partnership with APC as a means to leverage additional private funding. Council discussion referenced a broader figure of about $1,900,000 in combined park investments under prior efforts, and Mayor Malik said the city’s participation helped unlock private dollars.
Councilmembers and the mayor encouraged continuation of the citywide master parks plan and flagged capital-budget discussions in the coming weeks as places to consider further park investments. No formal funding vote for parks was taken at the meeting; APC’s public ask was for publicity and community engagement support as the organization opens nominations and application forms online.
