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A History of Summit Lake & Summit Beach Amusement Park

With Summit Metro Parks Naturalist "Woody" Woodyard

Discover with Naturalist Woody the natural & cultural history of a local gem- Summit Lake & Summit Beach Amusement Park. Presented in hybrid format- come in person, or register to receive a Zoom link.

To receive a link, please register online, in person, or by phone at 330.745.6126.

Once called the "Million-Dollar Playground," amusement parks have existed at Summit Lake since the 1880s. In its heyday, the Summit Beach Amusement Park hosted the Crystal Pool, then the largest tile pool in the world. Wisteria Ballroom was touted as the world's largest dance floor and could handle 5,000 people.

A place of revelry and fun, the beach also had boat docks, slot machines, a carousel, Merry-Go-Round, a Ferris wheel, picnic pavilions, a roller rink, and The Skyrocket roller coaster. But the park was not immune from controversy and discrimination, particularly in the 1950s, when Akron was segregated. Societal changes, including urban restructuring and the rise of television and the automobile, gradually led to the closing of the park in the late 1950s.

In the following years, Summit Lake saw very dark times and was plagued by pollution and misuse. But thanks to the community support and the work of the Summit Metro Parks, the lake is now cleaner, and the amusement park has been replaced by a nature center, which opened in July 2021. Residents can hike, fish, boat, attend programs and farmers' markets at this local gem.

Join Naturalist Woody as he explores the natural and historical changes at Summit Lake. An Akron local, Matthew "Woody" Woodyard, is a recent non-traditional graduate from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in environmental studies and a minor in geography. He has interned and worked for both Summit Metro Parks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, having recently accepted a full-time position with the Summit Metro Parks. 

This program will be held in person at the Kenmore Branch Library, with the option to participate virtually via Zoom.

A webcam and microphone may be necessary for participation in this interactive event. If you have one or neither of these, your level of participation will be limited. If you do not have an email address, please contact the Kenmore Branch to learn how to participate in this program via phone.

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