"Make a Difference Day in University Park" Receives Statewide Award
"Make a Difference Day in University Park 2007" was selected as one of the top ten MDD events in Ohio from a field of more than 1,000 projects. Frances Strickland, First Lady of Ohio and Jim Tressel, Head Football Coach, The Ohio State University, presented the award in Columbus on April 22. Event Chair Rev. Jay Groat and Ken Stapleton of University Park Alliance accepted the award on behalf of the University Park Community.
On October 27, 2007, more than 800 students, University faculty and staff, and community volunteers spent the day in University Park helping others.
Despite cold and damp weather, volunteers rode buses or walked to more than 60 project sites at schools, churches, parks, nursing homes and non-profits.
Volunteers helped rehabilitate 4 homes, installed solar lighting for 30 homeowners, cleaned windows, and collected over 1,300 pounds of trash and recyclables from neighborhood streets and sidewalks.
An estimated 5,000 people in University Park were helped through "Make a Difference Day in University Park" activities. Students learned the value of service to the community. University Park residents, businesses and non-profits learned that students, employees and a wide variety of business sponsors are willing to work together to build community, impact lives and transform the University Park neighborhood into a vibrant urban core.
The key event sponsor was University Park Business Association. Other sponsors included Dominion, The Oelschlager Leadership Institute, Alpha Gamma Delta (Omega Chapter), University Park Alliance, Phi Delta Theta (Ohio Epsilon Chapter), Oriana House, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rebuilding Together Summit County, and University Park Business Association.
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Our Partners
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Akron Mayor Plusquellic to Speak at Awards Luncheon on May 12th
The fifth annual University Park Alliance Awards Luncheon will be held on Monday, May 12, at 11:30 am in the Student Union Ballroom at The University of Akron. The event is sponsored by Dominion. Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic is keynote speaker.
The UPA Awards recognize outstanding community members, businesses, developers, public officials, University students, faculty and staff for their contributions to the revitalization of University Park. The program will also showcase UPA's exciting new community bicycling initiative.
As in prior years, we expect sell-out attendance, so reserve your table or ticket today. Proceeds will benefit UPA's Scholarship Fund for long-term residents of University Park.
Corporate Table Sponsorships (seating eight) are $800, and Community-Based Non-Profit Table Sponsorships are $400. Individual tickets are $35 (general public) and $15 (University Park residents and students). Call 330-972-8859 for reservations and payment information, or register online below.
Register Here
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Spicer Village Townhomes Almost
Ready to View
Exciting things are happening on the corner of Brown and Power Streets in University Park. Construction of Akron's newest townhome complex, Spicer Village, is underway and the first of four buildings is nearing completion. The 25-unit first phase, located at 473 Brown Street, will have two fully-furnished models open for viewing by prospective purchasers by the end of April. Spicer Village is a close-knit community of beautiful, contemporary townhomes featuring unique architectural styling. The ultimate metro lifestyle is created, in part, with the choice of benefits and amenities, such as rooftop garden patios, street-side patios and generous green space across the street. The townhomes, which are available for sale now, allow for a completely unique urban Akron living experience. More
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University Park to
Go Wireless
All of University Park will benefit from free, wireless Internet access along with other areas of Akron totaling 8 square miles. This exciting project will be made possible by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in partnership with OneCommunity. "Universal Internet access will dramatically impact the continuing transformation of University Park into an attractive, dynamic and connected community," said UA President Dr. Luis M. Proenza. "Homes, schools, businesses, civic organizations and visitors will benefit tremendously from the generosity and foresight of the Knight Foundation and OneCommunity." Currently, the entire University campus has free wireless Internet access. The University has plans to make this on-campus wireless service available to the public in the near future. The expanded wireless coverage proposed by OneCommunity will further extend service to all residences, businesses and even green spaces within University Park. With cooperation from stakeholders and vendors, the network is expected to be operational by early 2009. The total investment in the network will be about $2.2 million. A team of people from the University - including Ken Stapleton of University Park Alliance and Jim Sage, the University's vice president for information technology services/CIO - will work with OneCommunity to develop and deliver programs for area residents. More
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May 12-16, 2008 is
"Bike to Work Week"
For people living in University Park, a two-wheeled commute to work is an especially viable idea. Eight of Akron's ten largest employers are located within University Park or are less than a 2.5-mile spin away. Couple these short commutes with a recent grant from JPMorgan Chase Foundation to fund community bike programs in University Park, and you have the ingredients for an increasingly bicycle-friendly community. UPA's bicycle program will help families in University Park improve their health, housing and wealth by using bicycles for more of their transportation needs. The ultimate goal is to create a system of safe neighborhood bike paths that can be used for most daily trips to school, work and stores. University Park Alliance is cooperating with the City of Akron in moving a citywide bicycling initiative forward. The city is developing and implementing a plan that will actively welcome and accommodate bicyclists on city streets. The plan will provide street space for bicyclists, encourage installation of safe and convenient bicycle parking, continue to provide bicycle racks on buses
and expand the region's bicycle network in order to encourage people to
bike. UPA is also working with several on-campus biking groups. When was the last time you smelled the honeysuckle in the springtime during your morning commute? Or pulled into your parking lot pumped with endorphins and ideas? Or lost weight just by going back and forth from work every day? If these benefits of bike commuting appeal to you, May 12 is the perfect time to start, especially if you live in University Park. More
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About University Park Alliance
The mission of University Park Alliance (UPA) is to revitalize and transform the diverse neighborhoods in a 50-block area immediately surrounding The University of Akron, through engaging the community and catalyzing real estate & business investment. UPA was established through a major grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and is comprised of partners including The University of Akron, City of Akron, Summa Health System, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Greater Akron Chamber, Akron Public Schools, and the University Park Development Corporation.
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