The Summit Lake NorthShore Park is now open!
On May 16, 2026, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition cut the ribbon for the Summit Lake NorthShore Park with residents, the City of Akron, state and local representatives, donors and community partners. Summit Lake NorthShore Park represents the culmination of 11 years of relationship-building with neighborhood residents, close collaboration with community partners, and dedicated fundraising efforts led by the Akron Civic Commons donor committee. Once desolate and overgrown, this reimagined space has been transformed into a vibrant resource and welcoming refuge—designed by and for Summit Lake residents and the surrounding community.
The Summit Lake NorthShore Park is co-managed by the City of Akron and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.
Park Address and Hours
The park is located at 540 W. South Street in Akron, and open from dawn to dusk. Operational hours (for onsite parking, staff, restrooms and rental amenities) are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the off-season.
Park Rules
Please be respectful of this new space and the communities who use it as a resource! For a full list of regulations, please see the button below.
Park Rentals
The John S. and James L. Knight Pavilion at the Summit Lake NorthShore Park will be available soon for rentals! Rent the East Wing or West Wing for your special gatherings.
The Hudson Family Picnic Shelter and Saulsberry Family Picnic Shelter are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are not available to reserve. Please be respectful of these spaces and leave them in the condition that they were in when you arrived!
Request for Vendor Proposals
May 22, 2026: The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition is seeking a vendor to provide healthy refreshments for the Summit Lake NorthShore Park for the 2026 season. Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition will provide a refrigerator and access to the Summit Lake NorthShore Park during the park hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the remainder of the year. We are seeking a vendor for the flat fee of $1,500, and all sales proceeds remain with the vendor. We request that the vendor provide a final report of total sales revenue.
For the full RFP, click the button below. Interested parties contact Meri Skiera, Operations Manager, at (330) 374-5657 or mskiera@ohioeriecanal.org.