General Information
Project Updates
See the latest updates on current park district projects.
We strive to create park amenities and experiences that deliver exceptional visitor experiences. We’re hard a work on short and long-term park improvement projects.
Freedom Trail
Summit Metro Parks staff have worked for more than a decade to deliver the Freedom Trail—a rails-to-trails multipurpose trail conversion—to Summit County residents. Completed in phases, this trail begins at the Portage County line and is currently rideable to Mill Street in Akron.
Phase 4 of Freedom Trail is under construction from Mill Street south to Buchtel Avenue in downtown Akron. This project will extend the trail south behind the University of Akron, near EJ Thomas Hall, and across the University Avenue bridge and end at Buchtel Avenue, please see attached PDF document. A small parking lot and trailhead facility will be constructed at the corner of Mill and Lincoln Streets. Phase 4 will continue in following years to allow riders to cross from Downtown Akron to connect to the METRO RTA Station and Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail near the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Freedom Trail: Connection to the Portage
Summit Metro Parks plans to connect the Freedom Trail from the newly constructed trailhead at Middlebury Rd. to “The Portage,” Portage County’s seven-mile Hike & Bike Trail. Supported by a grant from Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS), the new connection will include a bridge over the existing CSX railroad, and a switchback-style path over the grade change between the two trails. Please view the project details (pdf).
Gorge Dam Removal
A diverse group of community partners is working to remove the 420-foot-wide, 60-foot-tall dam within Gorge Metro Park. The dam, which is no longer in use, is a significant impediment to the water quality of the Cuyahoga River. The effort to “Free the Falls” through dam removal is expected to improve river ecology, create recreational opportunities and drive economic benefits.
The Free the Falls project is managed by a group of stakeholders that includes the City of Akron, City of Cuyahoga Falls, FirstEnergy, County of Summit, Summit County Council, Summit Metro Parks, Ohio Lake Erie Commission, Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA.
Munroe Falls Master Planning
Summit Metro Parks staff are comprehensively evaluating how well Munroe Falls Metro Park is meeting the needs of the Summit County community and which activities our visitors would like to enjoy in the future. We have completed two rounds of public input.
Please watch the video to learn more about our plans for the park. Note: The public input process ended October 21, 2023.
Sand Run Metro Park Retaining Walls
This work includes removal and replacement of the retaining wall adjacent to the Jogging Trail from the Chestnut Lodge drive east to the Shadowfield lot. This project is needed to protect infrastructure to the park including the Jogging Trail, Sand Run Parkway and natural resources. The project is scheduled from November 2024 through May 2025.
Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Bridge
A Towpath Trail bridge near the Wolf Creek Trailhead in Barberton is in the process of being replaced. The project began in late January 2025 and is expected to complete in late May 2025. Learn more in the project details slide linked below.
Park alerts
Know before you go!
Please visit our park and trail alerts page before your next park outing. This page will have the latest information about park closures and other updates.