Mark Greer -Coordinator of Great Streets Akron

After speaking with Mark for 20 minutes, it was abundantly clear that he is an Akronite through and through. Mark has been in his current role as Coordinator of Great Streets Akron for a mere five months but he has been passionate about this city for much, much longer than that. When meeting with interviewees, I give everyone the option of choosing anywhere they’d like to meet up. Mark picked Kerr Park right off of Copley Rd. Some might say it’s a rough area or perhaps not the safest spot to meet but not Mark. Mark sees potential and pride and progress everywhere he looks and that’s what makes him the perfect person to help revitalize Akron through the Great Streets program.

1. What does your job entail?

Great Streets Akron is one of the Mayor’s central initiatives and I coordinate the program. There are 11 Great Street districts and we view these streets as the mini hubs of these neighborhoods. We are investing in the communities in the form of façade improvement grants. Thus far, we’ve been able to award over $1M in grant funds. Akron is a great city because of its communities and the Great Streets Akron initiative is fostering a resurgence of these communities. Ultimately, each district has a unique story. My job is to help them tell their stories.

Kenmore Boulevard is a good example of a community who has taken advantage of these grants to revitalize their area and rewrite their story. If you asked people several years ago what their perception of Kenmore Blvd. was, it wouldn’t have been nearly as positive or vibrant as it is now. Some of the early exterior improvements have been a catalyst for a lot of other positive change and engagement. The Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance hosted a really successful series of First Friday events and it’s really amazing to see how many people came out to support that. It’s just put a huge spotlight on what an awesome and strong community they have there.

I think a lot of times people see the exterior of a place or district and make an assumption about the area without really knowing the story. There is so much underneath the surface that people wouldn’t know by just looking at the outside. We are partnering with these communities to help them give an accurate representation of who they really are.

2. What is your favorite part about your job/working for the city of Akron?

Being able to partner with community advocates, business owners, and leaders throughout the city. Coordinating and collaborating with them on a united mission to better serve the citizens.

3. Do you have a favorite memory of working for the City?

The Copley Rd. Better Block event was a highlight. The Copley Rd./Maple Valley corridor is often characterized as a “blighted” area but it was clear from that event that the people who live here don’t view it that way. The energy, enthusiasm, and pride that I saw made it clear that this area is on the precipice of a renaissance. I grew up around Copley Rd. and went to Erie Island School so it was really great to see the people here showing pride in our community.

4. What is your proudest accomplishment while working for the city?

Just working with business owners and community leaders and being an advocate for them. For so long the general narrative has been “This is just how it is.” Getting to come in and really make a difference in these individual’s lives and start to change that narrative has been rewarding.

5. Why did you choose Kerr Park to meet?

As I mentioned, I grew up in the Maple Valley district. You know everybody wants to have pride in where they live. This program is working to reinvigorate these areas for the people who have been here all their lives, for people new to the area, and for future generations to come. This spot is really right on the edge of a huge revitalization and I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Growing up in the Copley Road corridor, I saw first hand what a vibrant business district it was, as well as a community as a whole. I remember my dad taking us to the old Lantern Restaurant in the mornings and stopping by the Dairy Queen that used to be on the corner of Copley and Frederick after school. I just have a lot of fond memories of this really vibrant area. I mean going down East Copley I remember all the restaurants and housing that were there. If you’ve just seen this area over the past several years and a lot of the vacant lots and all that, you wouldn’t realize what it once was. As someone who remembers, it’s regrettable to think that people’s current concept of it is perhaps one that is focused on blight rather than opportunity. That’s why the Great Streets initiative is so important.

We used to go to Kerr Park when I was a kid and it’s just gone through a period of time where it’s been, not just neglected, but really undervalued. If you talk to the community residents and advocates in that area you’ll see that there’s a rich history there throughout Maple Valley/Copley and people just need to be reminded of it. I think this is the prime opportunity now for that history to come back and also for a new story of Copley to be told because there are a lot of people who are ready to start writing that next chapter. This area has a great story to tell and I’m really excited to see how it unfolds.

6. What are some of your hobbies or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love music. I’m a pianist- went to school for Music and taught piano and keyboard harmony for 4 years at Malone University. I also enjoy writing poetry and non-fiction. I’d like to publish a book one day. I’m a big history buff and I like architecture and museums as well.

7. Do you have a favorite place in Akron?

I have a few favorite places. The Towpath trail is obviously beautiful as well as the area overlooking the gorge. Just the parks in general. The history buff in me really likes places like the John Brown House and the spot where Sojourner Truth delivered her iconic “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech.

8. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?

I also want people to know that part of this initiative is revitalizing public spaces. We are working with the districts to renew/spruce up parks, vacant lots, implement parklets, banners, planters, and enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of these districts. There’s a lot more to Great Streets than people may realize and we’re working hard to benefit these communities.

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Great Streets is a City of Akron initiative, out of the Office of Integrated Development, aimed at improving 11 neighborhood business districts (NBDs) within the City, with a goal of promoting greater community engagement, increased business development and retention, safer neighborhoods, enhanced aesthetics, urban design, public space, and improved transportation conditions. By targeting city support and resources in our Great Streets districts, along with thriving neighborhood partnerships, we are creating a notable impact in these community hubs throughout Akron. The City seeks to enhance, grow, and connect our business districts while empowering the unique, local culture that makes them the hubs of our neighborhoods.

For more info on Great Streets please check out https://www.greatstreetsakron.com/.