“University Park Alliance has a lot going for it in our books. Well, our newspaper. If there is one thing that can turn the university and its surrounding area into a community, it’s what UPA has in mind. They’ve been discussing bicycle and traffic issues, pedestrian crossings and even lighting and light maintenance.”
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University Park Alliance has a lot going for it in our books.

Well, our newspaper.

If there is one thing that can turn the university and its surrounding area into a community, it’s what UPA has in mind.

They’ve been discussing bicycle and traffic issues, pedestrian crossings and even lighting and light maintenance.

They’re even going to rebuild the areas surrounding campus, and work on Spicer Village begins sometime in October.

Instead of keeping students out of the new upscale neighborhood, the UPA plans to make it a more appealing place for students to live.

With all the university’s parking problems, we think more students living within walking distance is a great idea.

Not to mention UPA will provide more jobs to the area. The restoration of Akron’s historic, 1929 post office — a $30 millon project — will provide 370 jobs alone.

But the UPA doesn’t just focus on revitalization by tearing down and rebuilding, and that’s what scores them the most points.

This is the third year UPA will be involved with Make a Difference Day, working on clean-up, murals, landscaping and park improvements throughout the day.

No wonder UPA was chosen for the Community Impact award — and $10,000 –from Dominion East Ohio and Inside Business Magazine for its significant community impact.

The university does reach out to the surrounding areas, after all.

The UPA’s plans to revitalize the city through the next 10 years are just a good as we’d hoped they’d be.

Encouraging more walking and bicycling by creating wider sidewalks and narrowing streets are among the plans, that seek to create a walkable city.

Hello, new urbanism.

A great idea for a college set in a city, embracing this idea of a walkable community will allow both the campus and the city to thrive.

Not only that, but the Buchtelite will get it’s own building and more office space.

In our dreams, maybe.

Even though it’s doubtful we’ll move out of the basement, UPA’s plans still give us hope for the future.

And for that, we owe them thanks.

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