You can help efforts to revitalize public spaces in downtown Akron by hanging out in the city’s center and watching folks.
Volunteers are needed Thursday and Saturday to observe and record how people use public spaces as part of the ongoing Reimagining the Civic Commons project, funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Volunteers will use methods developed by the Gehl international urban design company to help evaluate how people are using public space.
The idea is to use the observations to determine how downtown could become a more inviting place for people, said Kimberly Beckett with the nonprofit Downtown Akron Partnership, a partner in the Reimagining the Civic Commons project.
Volunteer shifts are four hours and take place outside in various spots downtown. Volunteers are still needed for these shifts: 8 a.m. to noon and 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon; and noon to 4 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The biggest need is for Saturday volunteers, Beckett said.
All volunteers must attend a required training from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Akron. The specific location is to be determined and will be sent to registered volunteers through email.
A light dinner will be provided.
To sign up to volunteer, go to http://bit.ly/2ep4Jgb or call 330-374-7676.