AKRON, Ohio — Part of the highway known as the Innerbelt that loops around downtown Akron has been decommissioned for years. 

Originally built as part of a plan to modernize the surrounding area, the project led to many — primarily Black families — being bought out and displaced. But leaders and residents are now working together to re-envision plans for the area’s future.

What You Need To Know

  • Akron residents taking part in planning for part of downtown known as Innerbelt

  • Akron mayor announced the city received a $10 million federal grant to help fund the revitalization project

  • The Innerbelt has been decommissioned for years, and the city is looking to re-envision the area

Akron residents are invited to take part in what the future of their city will look like. They’re giving feedback on everything from housing to health care and green space.

The United States government funded projects in the 60s and 70 known as Urban Renewal projects for the purpose of modernization. In downtown Akron, it led to buying out homes and businesses.

“It was ostensibly a program to eradicate urban blight — quote unquote urban blight — in many cases, the target areas were areas where Black residents lived,” Siqu Zhu, associate principal of planning, Sasaki.

The city has hired a planning team to help with come up with ways to revitalize the area, formerly known as Wooster Avenue, but not without the help of the community. Residents are getting a chance to attend community meetings and give feedback about the economics, housing, health care, green spaces and the type of transportation they hope to see in the rebuilt area. The goal is to establish an area that fits the needs and wants of the residents.

A local resident has also been brought on board as part of the planning team to ensure the community is being reached out to and included in the process.

“For all the years that the Innerbelt existed and that community has been disengaged and sort of disenfranchised, there weren’t many opportunities to hear the stories. And now, moving forward, the goal is to bring people to the table and let them have a voice,” said Carla Davis, community engagement coordinator for the Akron Innerbelt Master Plan Project.

During that event, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced the city of Akron has received a federal grant of $10 million that will be matched by the city to help fund the project.

There will be three more opportunities for people to contribute to the planning. The city hopes to have the master plan completed by the end of summer of 2025.

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