Goodyear Heights - Akron, OH

Akron industrialist F.S. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., envisioned a neighborhood where his workers could live and then walk to work. He purchased 400 acres of land near the rubber plant and building commenced in 1912. Workers could buy a home with a $100 down payment. What started out as 100 homes has grown to more than 1,200 residences. Most of the residents no longer work at the rubber plant, but the neighborhood still thrives.

There are no museums in the neighborhood, but the Akron Art Museum on South High is nearby. Opened in 1922, the museum houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. The museum has been characterized as a “preserver of the past” and a “herald of the future.” The museum includes 11 exhibition areas, a library, an auditorium, a lounge area, studios and shops.

Restaurants in Goodyear Heights tend to be fast food or of the national chain variety. You can find some restaurants that stand above the rest if you travel a bit out of the area.

Bricco, located on the corner of Main and Exchange streets in downtown Akron, also serves Italian food but the restaurant prefers to call its offerings “phunky pizza and pasta.” That means you can get traditional dishes, such as crab cakes or spinach Florentine ravioli, or venture into new territory with less traditional fare such as pizzas with toppings like blackened chicken and chorizo sausage bean dip on the Mexican pizza or grilled chicken, spinach, roasted tomatoes and Alfredo sauce on the chicken Alfredo pizza. The “phunky” menu, full bar and extensive beer and wine lists entices diners from all over.

A trip west to South Main Street will take you to the Lockview, a place where you can find good food, good drinks, and good times. The Lockview claims to have the “most delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches,” grilled bread oozing with cheese and fillings of your choice. Try one and see if you agree. It also serves other sandwiches, burgers and tacos, macaroni and cheese bites, soups and more than 200 craft beers, along with other alcoholic beverages. Sit at the bar or get comfy at a table or booth in the main dining area. Weather permitting, you can eat out under the stars on the rooftop patio.

Goodyear Heights is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with sidewalks throughout. However, there are no bike lanes, so use caution on the roads.

Residents can call for a cab, but those who don't want to drive opt primarily for riding a METRO bus. It provides a convenient way to travel, with many stops in the area. The No. 30 bus runs along the southern and eastern borders of the neighborhood, while the No. 19 bus covers the northern and western edges. Both routes connect with other buses to take you outside of the neighborhood and around the city.

If you need a ride but don’t want to take a cab or bus, you can utilize the Uber car service.

A short trip south on Interstate 77 to Lauby Road will bring you to the Akron Canton Airport, where you can book a flight to several major cities in the United States, including Denver, Chicago, Boston and New York. From there you can travel on to other parts of the country or around the world.

Several small parks dot the neighborhood, but the 400-plus acres of Goodyear Heights Metro Park is definitely the biggest attraction. With more than four miles of paved trails, baseball and softball fields, a small pond for fishing and picnic tables scattered throughout, this is the to-go place for enjoying the great outdoors. Bring your pet, but keep it on a leash. Enjoy the parks amenities for free. A pavilion can be rented for special occasions.

Crowds gather each year in the park for the Annual Fall Family Outing. With live music, storytelling and kids’ activities, there is always something for everyone, including those in wheelchairs, who can enjoy a hayride with a specially equipped wheelchair-accessible hay wagon. Indulge in some fresh apple cider and popcorn, two concession favorites, while you stroll through the grounds. Summit County Metro Parks sponsors the event and admission is free.

Another big attraction in the park is the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, a free event that celebrates the beauty of ballet. The city of Akron sponsors the festival, which takes place at Goodyear Heights Metro Park and at various locales throughout the city. Different dance companies from throughout Ohio perform at the separate venues.

The overall cost of living in Goodyear Heights is the same as that of Akron, but is about one percent less than in nearby Cleveland. Groceries and transportation costs are the same as in the rest of Akron, but they are 10 percent higher than in Cleveland. Housing costs are the same as those of Akron but stand about three percent higher than in Cleveland. The average cost of a one-bedroom house or apartment runs about $495 per month.

You can ride the METRO bus for $1.25 for a single trip, $2.50 for full day, $15 for a 7-day pass and $50 for a month. Gas prices stay about five percent lower than the national average. Expect to pay about $6 for a pint of beer in the local restaurants and pubs.

As would be expected in a neighborhood originally built by a tire company, plenty of retail businesses exist in relation to vehicle maintenance and repair. However, other retail shopping in the area is limited.

Residents can purchase their groceries at the local Acme on the corner of Eastwood Avenue and Route 91, or the Giant Eagle on East Waterloo Road. Both are chain grocery stores. Acme carries a full line of grocery, deli, meat, seafood and produce items. It also has a pharmacy. Giant Eagle also carries a full line of groceries and has a pharmacy.

Shoppers looking for fresh produce travel to nearby Kent for the Haymaker Farmers’ Market. It operates outdoors on Franklin Avenue during the summer months and indoors at Pierson Hall of the United Methodist Church on East Main Street during the winter. Find locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, jams and jellies, meats, milk, cheese, honey, maple syrup and more at Portage County’s oldest farmers’ market. Enjoy live local music from 10 a.m. to noon while you shop.

Boutique shopping requires a bit of travel. The trip will be worth it if you are looking for gently used upscale clothing at Revival Resale on West Market Street, a new contemporary accessory at Noto Boutique on South Main Street, or a gown for a memorable occasion at Ino’s Fashions, also on West Market Street. Dress the pampered baby in your life with a special outfit from Baby Sweet Pea’s Boutique on South Arlington Road.