Judith Bear Isroff Park

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• COMING IN 2008
• IsroffPksignpix-148.doc

To view The Judith Bear Isroff Park Plan -     Click above on....   COMING IN 2008

 

Points of Interest

Keep Akron Beautiful, is acting as a facilitator for this public park memorial in the name of the nonprofit’s first Executive Director.

In 1981, Judy was instrumental in creating the agency to address environmental issues such as littering, recycling and beautification of public lands. She then served for seven years as the Executive Coordinator.

A Task Force was convened in the summer of 2006, to proceed with plans to create a public memorial. Members are friends of Judy’s and Keep Akron Beautiful, as well as former colleagues of Judy who asked to be involved.

The City of Akron and specifically, Mayor Don Plusquellic, has approved the location and the land use of the new park in west Akron.

The public parcel at the intersection of White Pond Drive and West Market Street is about 1 acre. It is currently a grassy, flat park with assorted trees and the Fairlawn Garden Center.

The Fairlawn Garden and Civic Center was erected as a one-room schoolhouse in 1865. It has also served as a branch library and now is leased by the City to the Akron Garden Forum for meetings, flower shows, speakers, workshops and special events in the park.

Several sites were considered for the park by the Task Force prior to writing the Request for Proposals (RFP) which was mailed in October 2006, to 28 area landscape architects. Five submitted landscape proposals by the February 2007 deadline.

March 5, 2007, Mr. John S. Vittum was announced as the chosen designer for the park landscape based on how closely he followed the parameters laid out in the RFP. He felt it was an honor to be chosen because of his close personal and professional relationship with Clifford and Judy Isroff.

The modern landscape design for the park features gentle, elevated mounding connected by stacked stone walls, paths and groves of trees known to be some of Judy’s personal favorites. It has creative use of native plant materials, stone and earth forms, with a stark absence of flowers. The park will be irrigated and dramatically lit at night. The design allows for 20 parking spaces.

There will be understated signage in the park identifying it as a memorial park to Judy Isroff.

The accepted plan will cost approximately $400,000 which will be raised from the private sector.

There will be an endowment fund set up through the Akron Community Foundation for the ongoing maintenance of the park.

Work will begin on the new city park at the same time the city begins the street improvements to the last segment of West Market Street, from White Pond Drive to the city limits of Fairlawn. It is estimated that second phase will start in 2009.

Task Force Members: Jody Bacon, Myrna Berzon, Frances Buchholzer, Paula Davis, Susan Gippin, Patty Graves, Bill Hahn, Mitchell Kahn, Polly Kaczmarek, Sue Kruder, Frank LaRose, Bette Leff, Karen Nackes, Jane Rogers, Arlene Rossen and Sandra Smith.

The current park will have most of the trees moved to new locations. The building will not be affected but in the new landscape plan will surround it and provide a border with the neighboring properties.

In 2001, Judy and her husband Clifford Isroff received the Bert Polsky Award for community service by the Akron Community Foundation.

Judy Isroff served as President or Chairman of: Leadership Akron, Jewish Community Board of Akron, Akron Roundtable and the Akron Art Museum. She was also honored with recognition by the Garden Club of America for her beautification efforts in Akron.