EXPLORE
THE LOCKS

Cascade Locks Park is more than a trail segment—it’s a cultural corridor where history, recreation, and community converge.

Cascade Locks Park Association activates a public space unlike any other in Akron—a city‑owned museum nestled within a Summit Metro Park, running alongside the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail where historic canal waters still course by and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad chugs through. This is a living crossroads of transportation, industry, and culture.

A Park at the Heart of Cascade Valley

Cascade Locks Park sits in the center of Akron’s Cascade Valley Neighborhood, an intricate intersection of urban and rural, old and new. The landscape celebrates how transportation and energy shaped the Akron we know today—from canal boats and water‑powered industry to railroads and modern trail systems.

Southern Gateway

The southern entry point at Beech and Howard Streets, just north of MLK Boulevard, once pulsed with the sounds of jazz greats performing in Akron’s Little Harlem. That legacy lives on today through the Akron Jazz Festival and ongoing cultural storytelling along the corridor. It neighbors, the Northside District and scenic railroad are just a short detour down the towpath connector routes.

Northern Gateway

The northern entryway at West North and Howard Streets nears where the Little Cuyahoga River and canal waters meet and marks the birthplace of Quaker Oats. Today, this area connects visitors to our natural gateway to the north, Lock 15 Brewery, The Trailhead, Cascade Village, and a cluster of local businesses that anchor the district as an up-and-coming destination.