As winners of the eighth annual Akron Parks Challenge, Heintz Hillcrest Park in Firestone Park is set to receive $150,000 in city funds to improve the park.
Park improvement ideas that will be vetted with the rest of the neighborhood include new teen play equipment, improved landscaping, fruit trees, more seating, disc golf and more, the city said in a May 21 news release.
“The Akron Parks Challenge has been a huge success, improving parks by putting residents in the driver’s seat to decide the future of their park,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik in a prepared statement “It’s essential to neighborhood health and safety to have engaged and active groups involved in solutions toward a more vibrant Akron.”
Malik initially announced the news during the 2026 State of the City address.
The Akron Parks Challenge launched in 2018, a collaboration between the city, Akron Parks Collaborative, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Heintz Hillcrest Park is the 15th Akron Parks Challenge recipient, and the first in Ward 7.
Friends of Firestone Park, a group that seeks to support all of the neighborhood’s city parks, applied for the challenge.
“We are incredibly excited and honored to have been selected as a winner of the Akron Parks Challenge,” said Heaven DiMartino said, a member of Friends of Firestone Park. “These improvements at Heintz Hillcrest Park will help create a more beautiful, welcoming, and accessible space for everyone who lives, works, and plays nearby.”
Over the next several months, the city of Akron and the Akron Parks Collaborative will work with the group to produce a community engagement plan, which will include public meetings, events, surveys and discussions with neighborhood stakeholders, the city said. The improvements could begin as soon as a year from now but usually take two years to complete, according to the city.
Learn more about Akron’s Park Challenge at akronparks.org.
“This year’s applications showed yet again the passion and willingness that people have across Akron to improve their neighborhood. It also showed how great the need is in so many of our city parks,” said Bridget Ambrisco, executive director of Akron Parks Collaborative. “While we could only select one recipient this year, we are looking forward to working with all of the applicants to firmly establish Friends groups and support their efforts in activating their park and implementing small improvements.”
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Heintz Hillcrest Park named winner of 2026 Akron Parks Challenge
Reporting by Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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