Although numerous Akron events were canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, about the prospect of being able to host activities in 2021.
The and the are slated to be back this year after social distancing concerns scuttled plans last summer: the Akron Marathon went virtual, and the remains closed.
Executive Director Traci Buckner says there鈥檚 a small silver lining in the fact that they had to close last March, half-way through a major capital campaign.
鈥淲hat we intend to do is, do our project in phases. Since there鈥檚 no people coming into the museum right now, we鈥檙e going to start the build-out of some of our expansion.鈥�
Chris Anderson, director of the , says they also hope to be back in-person, even in a limited capacity.
鈥淚n 2020, we did virtual-only. We鈥檙e going to keep that element just to make ourselves available to people who can鈥檛 necessarily get down there or even people outside this area.鈥�
At Lock 3, Operations Manager Tish Jernigan says they鈥檝e put up modified signage in anticipation of more events this year.
鈥淔or our outside venue, we put up signs that say 鈥榤asks must be worn when not able to social distance.鈥� Because that way 鈥� on a Wednesday, when people are walking through the park [if] they don鈥檛 have their masks on and it鈥檚 just themselves 鈥� if the sign says 鈥榳orn at all times,鈥� people will actually call and complain to the health department that someone is walking through Lock 3 without a mask on.鈥�
This week, the Downtown Akron Partnership also hopes to announce plans for limited St. Patrick鈥檚 Day festivities. The marathon is still hiring volunteers. And , which produces public art installations, is already holding events downtown.
