The Summit Lake Nature Center is busy with visitors at the former pump house building along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Akron. Summit Metro Parks newest nature center opened its doors in 2021.
“After the successful pilot of a nature center with educational programming developed based on feedback we received from the community, we are thrilled to expand our presence in the Summit Lake neighborhood and to connect people with nature in new ways in Summit County,” said Executive Director Lisa King.
Building construction and interpretive exhibits were supported by the Summit Metro Parks Foundation. The park district worked with Tessellate/EXPLUS to create educational and engaging exhibits that tell the story of the site’s cultural past and highlight its natural history.
The pump house building was given to the park district by the City of Akron, and its development has been made possible thanks to philanthropic support. The primary funder is the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation with additional support from the Akron Community Foundation, Great Lakes Construction, Summit County Land Bank Community Development Matching Fund Grant Program and a generous individual donor.