Letter to the City of Akron
In 2025, the City of Akron was recognized as an All-American City. We wrote Mayor Shammas Malik to express congratulations for this designation, as well as concern about City Council's inhibition of public participation. Read the letter below.
28 July 2025
Mayor Shammas Malik
City of Akron
166 S High St Suite 200
Akron, OH 44308
Dear Mayor,
The City of Akron and its citizens are to be commended for again receiving the designation of All-American City. According to the President of the City League Doug Linkhart, “Akron was chosen as a national model for engaging residents, businesses and government stakeholders in the pursuit of environmental goals. Their efforts are creating lasting impacts that reduce and mitigate the effects of climate change while bolstering residents’ well-being. They remind us that communities are strengthened through both individual and collective action.”
Akron is blessed with several environmental citizen-based organizations that were a part of engaging citizens such as GAINS, SOSA and specifically for the CVNP and Cuyahoga River, Preserve the Valley (PTV).
PTV fully supports the efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability, including Akron Waterways Renewed and the huge investment for the large scale infrastructure upgrades. In fact, PTV was formed in order to support and preserve those innovative initiatives and protect the Cuyahoga River from overdevelopment, most notably at Theiss Woods, located above the valley and river.
Thankfully, Akron listened to those citizen voices, whose efforts have been rewarded on a national stage. Relatedly, PTV urged the cities of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls to work collaboratively to create a Master Plan for a sustainable future for the Valley, adopt Form-Based Code for responsible development and commit to resolutions to adhere to the tenets of being Gateway Communities to Ohio’s only National Park, CVNP. The benefit of these actions will protect our infrastructure and strengthen the work of those in city government who see value in addressing the changes in our climate and listening to the concerns of residents.
We urge Akron City Council to follow this administration’s lead by heeding the call for the value of engaging residents and encouraging, not inhibiting, public participation. Governments and democracy are enhanced when there is a free flow of ideas. Tightly controlling community access does not accomplish those goals and is not rewarded with national acclaim.
Most Sincerely,
Preserve the Valley