Summit Lake Events

Built around Summit Lake itself in southern Akron, and one of the city's most ambitious civic-revitalization sites — Reimagining the Civic Commons has poured years of investment in alongside the Knight Foundation, Summit Metro Parks, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, and the City of Akron. The Summit Lake Nature Center now occupies a former tire-factory pump house with lakefront views, interpretive exhibits, and a community garden. The 2.25-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Summit Lake Trail (completed in 2023, with new bridges at Kenmore Boulevard and the North Shore) ties the lake's east and west sides into the Towpath Trail. The Reach Opportunity Center runs sports, after-school, and adult-services programming. Expect outdoor events, nature programs, and community gatherings on and around the lake.