Efforts are continuing to preserve the historic green water tower and nearby pump station at Reservoir Park in Akron’s Goodyear Heights neighborhood. The structures are decommissioned as Akron moves ahead with a major replacement of the aging reservoir at the site.
Ward 10 Council Member Sharon Connor told residents at an August ward meeting that work is continuing to find a way to save the water tower.
The city previously planned to remove the tower and pump station as part of the reservoir project, prompting preservation concerns from residents and local officials.
Neighborhood Landmark Faces an Uncertain Future
The structures are closely associated with the history of Goodyear Heights and have become recognizable neighborhood landmarks. The tower appears in neighborhood imagery and is tied to community events around Reservoir Park.
Connor said a company has been hired to prepare renderings showing ways the structures could potentially be reused.
Among the ideas under discussion are creating an eating or gathering area and converting the pump house into space for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Meanwhile, construction on the replacement reservoir has begun. Concrete work started in August, with some pours scheduled at night to avoid excessive daytime heat.
Ideas Include STEM and Community Uses
The reservoir replacement is part of a broader investment in Akron’s water infrastructure. The preservation effort is focused on finding a practical new purpose for the tower and pump station while the city replaces infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life.
No final reuse plan for the two landmarks has been announced.
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