Cuyahoga Falls Partnership for Parks

The Partnership for Parks and City of Cuyahoga Falls recognize the impact that public art, especially live musical events, has on a community. In fact, the City was the first to implement a Master Arts Plan in Summit County, Ohio. The Plan was developed after a public engagement process that asked community members about the types of public artwork that they would like to see and where they would like for them to occur within the city. An overwhelming majority of those who participated asked the City to commission interactive art installations, including live music, in gathering places, including city parks. We also received similar feedback from the community during the public engagement process in the development of its Parks and Recreation Continuous Improvement Plan. In fact, when asked about the types of programming the community would like to see held in City Parks, live music was one of the top responses.

Public art, including live music, is a proven method to help connect different cultures and promote diversity and inclusivity, forming bonds that would not have otherwise occurred without it. It helps break cultural barriers and enable individuals to connect on a deeper level with one another and build a sense of community and improve the economic stability of the region. For these reasons, the City is committed to launching a music concert series in Galt Park in the Bailey Road Corridor. The event series will incorporate music, local food, and family-friendly interactive activities. This will be accomplished through collaborations with our local art organizations to put out a call to artists to choose a diverse set of performers from multiple genres of music. We will also engage local restaurants as food vendors during the concert series. Lastly, our Park and Recreation Department will activate its Mobile Rec service which brings interactive family friendly activities to concert goers.

Galt Park, where the Levitt AMP Music Series will take place, is located in an underutilized area of the City that shows signs of economic decline. This area of our city consists of older housing stock that includes both single-family owner-occupied homes and rental units. The population of this area, according to U.S. Census data, is diverse in age and income levels. It also includes an older business district that is comprised of mostly small family-owned businesses, some of which cater to the Bhutanese and Karen communities. Within the next year, the City will begin to implement a new master plan for future development in this area. As public art is a great equalizer encouraging the economic stability of an area, it is imperative to engage the public in this way.

The grant will allow the city to hold 10 free annual concerts at Galt Park. Funding may also be used to provide transportation for concert goers and accommodations such as translation services and sensory friendly options for those with sensory sensitivities. Funding may also be utilized on promotional materials highlighting the local musicians and businesses participating in these events. In other words, this grant will breathe life into an underutilized area of our city by driving public engagement through the use of music, food, and other recreational activities. Lastly, it will bring public awareness to the local businesses in this corridor and spur additional economic activity.