Merriman Valley master plan meetings happen next week
A series of public meetings will occur next week in connection with Akron’s and Cuyahoga Falls’ effort to create a master plan for the Merriman Valley and Schumacher areas.
On Aug. 17 through 19, urban planners Farr Associates and their team of consultants will present a design charrette at Todaro’s Party Center, 1820 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron.
A charrette is a focused period of design activity occurring during a several-day period.
“Through this planning process, the two cities hope to ensure that the Merriman Valley and Schumacher neighborhoods become more walkable, healthy, equitable, beautiful, and resilient places to live, work, and play,” said Akron and Cuyahoga Falls city officials in a joint news release.
Four meetings will take place at Todaro’s Party Center:
- A public workshop to conduct scenario evaluation is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 17.
- Open studio time will happen from 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 18 and 19.
- A public workshop to have a preferred plan presentation will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 19.
Masks will be required for anyone attending any of the events. They will be provided for anyone who does not bring one.
After hosting a virtual discussion for its public workshop on July 15, Farr Associates has continued to gather data and incorporate public feedback into several potential master plan scenarios.
At the public workshop on Aug. 17, Farr Associates will present various plan scenarios and review the strengths, challenges, and potential of each one. Attendees will be able to participate in ranking and feedback exercises.
On Aug. 18 and 19, members of the public can stop by the charrette studio at Todaro’s during open studio times to see the design process in action and share ideas with the designers.
In the evening of Aug. 19, Farr Associates will present the preferred plan to the public for another round of feedback.
Cuyahoga Falls City Council in March approved a contract with Farr Associates to prepare a study and master plan for the Merriman Valley and Schumacher planning areas. The amount being spent on the contract is capped at $200,000.
Cuyahoga Falls and Akron will split the cost, but Cuyahoga Falls is serving as the fiscal agent for the process.
