Akron Community
The University of Akron and the community
We are in the heart of a dynamic regional economy that allows us to build partnerships with business and government, thus providing our graduates with vast career opportunities. As a result, many of our 107,000 alumni are in the highest echelons in business, education, law, arts, public service and health care.
Campus boundaries are one thing; the limits of our imagination are quite another. Take a walk through the neighborhoods bordering campus to the east and the south, and you'll notice a community moving forward: houses being refurbished into safe, healthy homes; a growing number of storefronts offering groceries and services to area residents, including students. And you'll notice there is more work to be done.
About Akron and the region
With a population of 212,000, Akron is the fifth largest city in the state of Ohio. It offers a vibrant downtown, serene parks, events and venues that appeal to almost every interest. Its regional location and easy access to airports and major highways puts you at the hub of a world of experiences and opportunities.
Here's a taste of what you can discover in Akron and the region:
- The critically acclaimed Akron Symphony Orchestra performs in UA's E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
- Nearby museums include the Akron Art Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.
- Canal Park is home to the Akron Aeros, a minor league baseball team.
- The Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland Cavaliers bring professional sports to the region.
- Nationally-known annual events include All-American Soap Box Derby and the National Hamburger Festival, both of which draw thousands to our city.
- Lock 3 Live is an outdoor venue tucked among the restaurants and attractions downtown. There's something going on every summer weekend!
- Scenic acres by the thousands can be found in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the 13 Summit County Metro Parks.
A bicyclist crosses a ford in Sand Run Metro Park, which is about 5 miles from campus. The University is 10 miles away from the expansive Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Research and the local economy
The University of Akron Research Foundation bridges gaps between industry and The University of Akron, facilitating the transfer of technology to private companies. It also provides intellectual property, commercialization and enterprise creation support to University faculty, staff and students, as well as Ohio entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners.
Learn more about research foundation and the local economy.
Creating a New Landscape for Living
University Park Alliance (UPA) is a multifaceted effort to transform the 50-block University Park neighborhood surrounding The University of Akron. A partnership between the University, the City of Akron, Summa Health System and others, UPA receives major funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Through engaging the community and leveraging private investment, UPA is working to revitalize the neighborhood as a vibrant urban community.
With a spirit all its own, University Park is one of Akron’s most evolving and diverse neighborhoods. Nearly four miles of designated bicycle paths, a newly constructed community learning center/elementary school and a second under construction, a premier community of contemporary townhomes and additional new housing choices expected soon all signal a neighborhood renaissance underway. Tree-lined, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly streets, parks and green space, restaurants, cafes, and shops are found throughout or just a short distance from University Park. As UA’s enrollment climbs, it continues to infuse University Park with the energy and vitality that only college students and faculty can bring.
The University Park neighborhood is home to The University of Akron and Summa Heath System’s City Hospital, and is within easy walking or biking distance from the Towpath Trail, an award-winning art museum, a minor league baseball park, and more than 300 free or low-cost cultural and sporting events at UA, including those at the new InfoCision Stadium. The neighborhood also offers easy access to outstanding medical care, the University’s top-notch recreational center, outstanding places of worship, and Dave’s Market, Akron’s newest grocery store.
The University of Akron
302 Buchtel Common. Akron, OH 44325
Phone: 330-972-7111
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