The Commons Community: Dee Falconer

Akron Civic Commons is thrilled to highlight Dee Falconer, chief of community engagement at Summit Metro Parks!

Tell us a little about yourself

I am a happy soccer and arts momma from southern Arkansas who loves nature! I moved to Ohio after separating from the National Parks Service as Park Ranger to join Cleveland Metroparks as a Naturalist. My passion is people and the land. After years of interpreting 19th-century history, I moved to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo where I spent time interpreting medical and research-focused procedures to the public in the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine. Later, I built a couple of trucks of different sizes and missions to bring nature into the inner-city neighborhoods of Cuyahoga County in a program called “NatureTracks”. I have been employed in Summit Metro Parks since 2016.

How did you get involved with Akron Civic Commons and what has been your experience?

After coming to Summit Metro Parks as the outreach manager in 2016, I had an idea to create a “pop-up nature center” for the Summit Lake community.

How has Akron Civic Commons impacted the neighborhoods along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail?

Akron Civic Commons allowed varying representatives for differently structured organizations the opportunity and space to get on the same page! This was monumental!

Do you spend time at Summit Lake, Lock 3, Ohio & Erie Canal Parks, or the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Downtown? And what is your experience?

Most definitely! It is a beautiful opportunity to integrate the place where you pay taxes into your lifestyle. My family and friends participate in concerts at the Civic Theater, birthday parties at Lock 3, and meals along the towpath at Trailhead, the Tea Room, or Spaghetti Warehouse. We ended our Sunday walks downtown during COVID-19 at Insomnia Cookies! And I would be remised if I didn’t mention our many gatherings at Oh Snap!, food from Davinci’s, and the social times at Perfect Pour.

What is your favorite thing to do in these areas?

Enjoy life!

What is your hope for the future of these areas impacted by the work of Akron Civic Commons (how would you like to see this work progress)?

I would like to see continuous integration of college and school-age students in downtown life, as well as a workforce development program to help maintain the public gathering spaces. I believe it would be helpful to make additional efforts to attend existing community gatherings - where the residents already are (i.e., civic organizations, churches, inter-faith alliances, and youth-led programs); to meet the people where they by creating spaces at existing events and inform the residents about the plans.

What impact have you seen the Akron Civic Commons work have on Summit Lake and Summit Lake Nature Center visitors?

I have seen so many folks of different races, socio-economic levels, and educational backgrounds work in harmony to help each other. From the fisherman enquiring if they could purchase a power washer to help clean the dock, to a resident who brings chocolate to Summit Lake Nature Center staff, to a teacher from a nearby performing arts school bringing students on an arts and nature field trip.

Last night, I engaged in a conversation with a community gardener who planted for the first time last year with my assistance in the rain. She comes religiously to the garden to reap her harvest and to unwind. She has given lots of love to throughout the summer to this space, including the older gentleman who works for the park and brings her bags to hold her harvest.

I noticed her talking to a younger man through the windows, who was dragging a kayak with fishing poles along the Towpath Trail toward the nature center. When I approached him with curiosity, I asked what was going on. The gardener replied, “He is cold, and he needs to come off the water. He needs to warm up.” I suggested the boater leave the kayak and go into the building to warm up for a while. Puzzled, the man said, “Leave the boat?” I offered watch the boat so no one will bother it and he could go warm up. He hesitated before the gardener chimed in to say that she would stay with me and watch his boat while he goes to warm up. The man said, “You would do that for me?”

I see the impact of Akron Civic Commons resulting in love and trust.