The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is funding an environmental study of Summit Lake as part of its ongoing effort to revitalize the downtrodden Akron neighborhood.
The nonprofit, along with the help of The Trust for Public Land in Cleveland, will examine everything from the water quality to sediment at the bottom of the lake to potential pollution issues on the surrounding public properties.
The groups first must know how the community can use the 100-acre lake before attempting to improve the neighborhood, said Kyle Kutuchief, the Knight program director in Akron.
“Can we boat? Can we fish? Can we swim? Can we make sand castles?” he said Tuesday when announcing the upcoming analysis.
A comprehensive study of the lake hasn’t been done in nearly 40 years, he said.
The foundation has committed $195,300 toward the initial effort. The plan is to begin the analysis soon and release results this summer.
“It’s a pretty amazing opportunity to rediscover all the potential that Summit Lake has,” Trust for Public Land program director Matt Schmidt said.
Summit Lake, which is used as part of the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail and located just southwest of downtown Akron, once served as a popular destination spot thanks to the former Summit Beach Park, an amusement park that closed in 1958.
The lake itself was a victim early on of the city’s manufacturing companies.
By as early as 1921, the lake was considered polluted and there were massive fish kills reported and swimming bans in place.
The water quality has bounced back since, but sediments reportedly remain laced with toxic chemicals. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency warns against eating channel catfish or common carp caught at the lake because they are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls.
The city continues to prohibit swimming there, with signs posted around Summit Lake to remind visitors.
Despite the water quality improvement, Summit Lake still has a poor reputation in the community.
“It’s not acceptable that we have allowed this amazing natural asset to decline and be disinvested as it has,” Kutuchief said. “We’ve just kind of accepted that there’s this lake that no one uses in the city.”
Last year, the Knight Foundation and Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition hosted a community day at the lake complete with free pontoon rides, food, activities for kids and live music to bring a focus back to the area. The event was part of the ongoing Reimagining the Civic Commons effort.
Kutuchief promised that the environmental results from the study — even if they aren’t positive — will be released publicly.
“We are insisting that whatever they find, we’re going to share,” Kutuchief said. “So if we find that it’s going to take a billion dollars — billion with a b — to clean up Summit Lake, we’re going to make that public. If it’s a million bucks. If it’s 10 bucks. We’re going to make that public.”
The Knight Foundation and The Trust for Public Land also have an eye on improving the neighborhood with more recreational opportunities such as bike trails and parks.
The surrounding residential neighborhood has fallen on hard times and continues to face a significant problem with vacant and abandoned homes. City and Summit County leaders have tried for years to turn around the area without much luck.
The nonprofit groups will host a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Summit Lake Community Center, 380 W. Crosier St., to hear ideas from residents and community advocates.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .