By Bob Dyer
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Thursday, Apr 08, 2010
From the window of his office at Cascade Plaza in downtown Akron, Rick Frantz has been an almost-daily witness to the city's efforts to reshape what used to be Lock 4 on the Ohio & Erie Canal.
During the past three years, Frantz watched as a crumbling parking deck came down, and the city began to turn the space — right behind the Civic Theatre, between the Cascade parking deck and Lock 3 — into a little waterside park.
He watched as concrete dams were built to create four small waterfalls. He watched as a multi-level plaza sprung up around them. He observed the installation of brick walkways, elaborate concrete ramps and stairs, then lighting, grass, trees and shrubs.
He likes what he sees, with one glaring exception: a total lack of pedestrians.
From his vantage point, the project was finished in the fall. But a gate at the south end is still padlocked, and the north end is sealed off with metal barricades.
''It would be nice if the city would at least open the park during the lunch hour for walkers on nice days,'' Frantz says. '' . . . Can you find out when the city will let us use it?''
Yep. On or about April 16.
Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth says there's more to the delay than meets the eye.
During the winter, ''we had no plans for snow removal, and it was very treacherous. The steps are all concrete, and there was no way to manage the space, so we closed it off.''
Now that snow is no longer an issue — knock on wood — the city is addressing a few lingering problems, most notably some pieces of jagged metal that wouldn't play well with visitors.
Officials also are trying to figure out how to deal with potential security issues on the north end, where the park leads into the Cascade parking complex under Bowery Street.
Another task: erecting signs that ban skateboarding, a pursuit that not only would annoy about 90 percent of the park's users but could damage the elaborate concrete work.
The new park cost a whopping $5.3 million, but much of that involved tearing down the parking deck, which had to be done anyway because of structural problems.
From the looks of things, the long wait will be well worth it.
This project essentially will expand the size of Lock 3 Park, the wonderful grassy amphitheater that plays host to summertime concerts that have drawn huge, festive crowds.
Lock 3 also serves as a marvelous lunchtime retreat for workers and visitors.
Although Akron's downtown will never be confused with San Antonio's, it is infinitely more appealing than it was even a decade ago. City leaders have realized there's something special about flowing water, a sight that fascinates folks of all ages.
Creating more access to the 183-year-old canal keeps the momentum going.
Lieberth says the new plaza might be used for concerts that are too small to stage in Lock 3. And when Lock 3 does have a concert, Lock 4 will be used as auxiliary space.
''We're taking steps to extend the liquor license into that space,'' he says.
The sore thumb is a string of decrepit buildings that abut the east side of the new plaza, notably the 12-story Landmark Building. Developers hope to transform the mess into upscale lofts on the upper floors, with restaurants and shops at street level. That would be the last main piece in a remarkable downtown transformation.
Bob Dyer can be reached at 330-996-3580 or bdyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
