State OF PLAY AKRON

State of Play Akron, Project Play’s 22nd community report, will analyze children’s access to quality sports and physical activity opportunities in Akron, Ohio. The report, in partnership with the City of Akron, follows Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s endorsement in 2025 of the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, a set of principles recognizing that youth should have the opportunity to develop as people through sports.

State of Play Akron will identify barriers and opportunities for more children to play, using the voices of local children through surveys and conversations to hear directly from them about their sports experiences. Through the State of Play research process, Project Play is building upon the city's existing sports and physical activity strategies. Developed in coordination with the Youth Success Summit — under the leadership of the Wallace Foundation’s Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents initiative — this upcoming report will provide the groundwork to:

• Assess current physical activity and sport opportunities for local youth.

• Strengthen Akron's long-term strategy for youth development.

• Deliver actionable ideas to ensure every kid has the opportunity to play.

During the project, Project Play will host the State of Play Akron Summit to celebrate sports and play locally and gather community members to strategize on improving access for youth. The final report will be released in 2027. Previous Project Play community reports have helped mobilize leaders across sectors to set shared agendas, shape government policies, develop innovative partnerships, and unlock tens of millions of dollars in grantmaking. 

For more information about this project, please contact Jon Solomon (jon.solomon@aspeninstitute.org)

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