Mayor Don Walters hosted roughly 200 community members for a hard hat tour on Monday, August 7, 2017, for a first-hand glimpse of the progress on the Downtown Transformation Project. Participants toured the two blocks of Front Street that had previously been closed to create a pedestrian mall. The community’s response to the hard hat tour was so overwhelming that planning for a second tour is currently underway.
“I am energized by the outpouring of interest and support from our residents and business leaders for this exciting project and am looking forward to planning an additional tour date,” stated Mayor Don Walters. “Communication remains one of our top priorities, and this gives us an opportunity to talk face-to-face with members of our community in an effort to keep everyone updated and enable them to physically see the ongoing progress of the transformation.”
Tours were led by city staff members and local project experts. Participants heard updates from construction and engineering experts, business leaders, and a resident who lives on the riverfront. Presentations included historical facts about Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, construction updates, and future plans for downtown. Participants learned about the extensive market and feasibility research that resulted in the decision to reopen Front Street to two-way traffic, increasing accessibility and visibility. They heard about the plans for the fountains, downtown entertainment, and branding efforts. They learned about new businesses, building renovations, and parking deck improvements. They also heard from Robin Smilek who is revamping the historic Falls Theatre into an event space.
“The timing could not be more perfect to restore this historic and eclectic event space right in the heart of Downtown Cuyahoga Falls,” explained Smilek. “This is a dream come true to have an opportunity to honor the city’s history while bringing life back to a place that has so much character and provides so much warm nostalgia for so many people.”
Cuyahoga Falls resident Selena Myers attended the tour with her 8-year-old daughter, Ava. “We were excited to attend the tour and see the progress that is being made on our new downtown,” said Myers. “I’m proud to raise my daughter in Cuyahoga Falls and I know that her future and the future of our city is incredibly bright here.”
Progress on the Downtown Transformation on Front Street can be viewed by visiting the live webcam feed at http://www.cityofcf.com/downtown-transformation.
Scheduling for a second tour in early fall is underway, and information will be released as soon as details are confirmed.