Goodyear Heights is a historic American neighborhood that was designed by the famous urban planner, Warren H. Manning. It is distinguished with classic architecture from Akron’s rubber era, plentiful parks, and recreation spaces. Art x Love was engaged by the R.I.G.H.T Committee (Residents Improving Goodyear Heights Together) to create a paintscape for Triangle Park (aka Gazebo Park) and reinvigorate this once flourishing community gathering place on Goodyear Boulevard.

The Triangle Park project was conceived before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, and evolved as a safe and responsible community initiative. Local artists Mac Love and Lindsey Jo Scott organized two days of socially distant collaborative painting with residents. Creative production of the murals was aided by neighborhood students from the Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts.

The Triangle Park paintscape features seven sidewalk murals that celebrate key points of neighborhood distinction:

Warren H. Manning
One of America’s most famous urban planners.

Neighborhood Streets
Named after Goodyear’s famous engineers, rubber plants, dirigibles, and innovators.

Parks
Beautifully integrated throughout the neighborhood

Steps
Providing quick access throughout the residential and recreation corridors.

Roses
Honoring the famous rose garden that was signature of Triangle Park in its heyday.

Water & Fruit
Celebrating the neighborhood’s natural springs and many private fruit trees.

Knowledge
An open book between Akron’s past and future.

To see more examples of Art x Love’s paintscape projects, click here.

Video produced by Studio ONe23

Art x Love was engaged by Akron City Councilwoman Tara Samples to coordinate production of Akron’s Black Lives Matter mural in response to the murder of George Floyd. Art x Love organized a team of local artists to lead mural creation and guide volunteers. Nichole Epps, April Couch, Alexandria Couch, and Gyasi Jones worked together with Councilwoman Samples to develop the creative vision for the mural. Art x Love served as the liaison between the artists and organizers, secured all materials, staged a COVID-safe collaborative production, and advocated for responsible and equitable practices across all phases of implementation.

Akron’s Black Lives Matter Mural was the first to be painted in Ohio, and is one of many that express the public outrage, cry for justice, and call for systemic change to combat racism. This important and highly sensitive project holds a deep meaning for our community and the nation as a whole.

The artists, organizers, and volunteers created the mural in solidarity and in memory of those whose lives have been taken by the public health crisis of racism. Days before the mural site was selected by the City of Akron, Na’Kia Crawford was shot and killed at the nearby intersection of North Howard and E. North Street, in Akron’s Cascade Valley neighborhood. Our faith and thoughts were with those whose lives have been, are, and will continue to be effected by the scourge of racism. We will continue to speak out against injustice, embrace diversity, and equitably invest in our communities to overcome society’s past and systemic failures.

Art x Love donated its time and services to support and complete this project. We are deeply grateful to all of the volunteers and community members who came out to peacefully protest and creatively express themselves at this pivotal time for our country and culture. Thank you!