Editor’s note: The Canton Repository is asking leaders in every Stark County township, village and city to share some highlights of what they have planned in 2026 for their communities. We will be presenting these community highlights to you throughout the next few months.
LOUISVILLE − The city will move forward this year with plans to add an amphitheater and other amenities to Metzger Park, make renovations to City Hall and do work to mitigate flooding in the community.
Here’s what the city of roughly 9,500 residents can expect in 2026:
An amphitheater will be added to Metzger Park
The Louisville Rotary is teaming up with the city to fund the construction of an amphitheater, with a new and improved design, over the existing concrete stage in Metzger Park.
Previous design renderings from 2024 show a canopy-like structure. But after the Rotary earned more money than expected while fund raising, they upped the scale of the project. Now, the design is more permanent, including a brick exterior compared to the previous heavy-tarp design.
The project’s estimated cost is $450,000, which will be paid for by a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a grant from the Stark County Community Foundation and city funds. The Rotary Club also auctioned naming rights and accepted donations from businesses and individuals.
Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026. The amphitheater will be used for library programming, community theater events and other gatherings.
Restrooms and concessions are coming to Metzger Park
The Metzger Park improvement plan involves the installation of a concession stand and restrooms in the center of four ball fields that were installed last year. The project is the last step in a three-phase improvement project at the park.
The cost is approximately $350,000, with $250,000 coming from a state capital grant.
Mayor Corey Street said Louisville previously had a shortage of ball fields and council worked to ensure the new fields provided all necessary amenities, including structures for storage and maintenance.
“I’ll be really excited when we get to actually see kids having fun and yelling and running and having a good time on those fields,” Street said.
The restrooms and concession stand are a prefabricated unit. It is expected to be delivered and connected to utilities early in the year. Dugouts for the ball fields will be installed in the early spring.
2. City Hall is scheduled for a refresh
Louisville City Hall was built in 1967 and no major improvements have been made in the past 30 years.
Because the building was constructed before the Americans with Disabilities Act, Street hopes improvements will make it practical, handicap accessible and in line with 21st century standards.
In 2025, the Fire Department moved out of City Hall to its new home at 1010 South Chapel St., freeing up space to expand and renovate City Hall.
The city has set aside $2 million for the project. City Manager Andrew Turowski said the city will need to pull more money from its capital fund for the project because of early estimates, but no additional taxes will be needed. More concrete estimates will come in the new year.
The city is working with Horne & King Architects, based in Dublin, Ohio, and is close to establishing the final design. After the design is put in place, it will go to the engineers and then the city will start the search for a contractor.
Officials hope to mitigate flooding in Louisville
Historically, Louisville has experienced major floods. To curb the issue, the city is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement recommendations to mitigate the flooding.
The work will involve bank clearing and the removal of debris in the portion of the Nimishillen Creek north of west Main Street and west of Chapel Street. The cost of the project is approximately $75,000 and will be paid for with city funds.
Turowski said the public will not see any disruptions as the work is completed.
Louisville has a new mayor, new council members
Street, who served as a councilman for eight years and is an elementary school principal at Tuscarawas Valley Elementary School, took over as mayor on Jan. 1. He defeated incumbent Pat Fallot and Jeff Shipman in last year’s general election.
He expects a smooth transition into his new role.
“As far as what residents are going to see, there’s not going to be huge changes or bumps in the road, or major transitions on the government side, which I think is positive,” he said.
During his campaign, Street was endorsed by numerous current and former members of council.
“People are ready for change, and fresh perspective and new leadership just to be able to look at things in a different way. I’m honored and humbled that voters put their trust in me,” Street said.
Along with a new mayor, Louisville will see two new faces on council: Guy Guidone and Tricia McAlister-Adkins.
Guidone is a former councilman (2008-2015) and a customer operations specialist at American Electric Power. McAlister-Adkins is a Louisville Middle School teacher and daughter of former councilman Thomas McAlister.
Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@usatodayco.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: What’s new in Louisville this year? New amphitheater, restrooms, City Hall renovations
Reporting by Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
