University District Connections

Recommendation 3

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT CONNECTIONS

Walsh University is a major employer and an important educational asset in the City of North Canton. The campus is largely self-contained and physically separated from Hoover District and downtown core by a short drive or long walk. Washington Square, directly across the street from the Walsh campus, has restaurants, a coffee shop, a bar, and a grocery store. With so much retail nearby, members of the university community have little need to visit the downtown area. In order to encourage students, faculty, and staff to go downtown there needs to be destination businesses people can’t find across the street and public programs that create a sense of excitement By linking the University District and Hoover District more tightly together, the downtown district will be enlivened by students, faculty, and staff. And the Walsh community will get to enjoy the amenities of a lively, historic downtown.

PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS

MAPLE AVENUE Pedestrian lighting, crosswalks, banners, and other streetscape improvements stop before they reach the downtown area. A continuous streetscape along Maple Avenue from Walsh University to East Main Street would create a stringer visual connection. (Google Streetview) Complete the Maple Avenue Streetscape Connection Pedestrian lighting, signage, and a path are already in place along Maple Avenue heading west from the campus. But these streetscape enhancements stop before they reach downtown. Completing the connection between the university and the downtown area may encourage more people to make the walk, especially in nice weather when events are scheduled for downtown. Extending the streetscape enhancements between Taft and Marquardt would create some visual continuity and can be scaled down to fit in with the residential context between there streets. Giving the path a name (i.e. The Walsh Way) may lead to increased use. A bike share program with fixed stations (rather than a dockless system) will make it easier for people to travel between the campus and downtown. Maple Avenue does not appear to be wide enough to accommodate bike lanes, but a widened sidewalk could function as a multi-purpose path.

BIKE SHARE Potential bike share stations along Maple Avenue between Walsh University and downtown.

Intersection of East Maple and Main Street Clearmount Elementary

Hoover Community Recreation Complex Walsh University entrance

PROGRAMMATIC CONNECTIONS

In addition to improving the physical connection, it would be useful to create more reasons for Walsh students to be downtown. A survey for students and other members of the university community would help to identify the kinds of businesses that would complement what is available at Washington Square to attract students to downtown. Also, meal plans for Walsh students include flex dollars that currently can be spent at a franchise pizza shop on Main Street. The flex funding program could be expanded to include more restaurants in the downtown area, including locally owned businesses, to provide an incentive for students to venture off campus for additional dining options. Walsh University has an Institute for Community development in the heart of downtown. This space could be used to showcase some of the university’s public-facing programs, including • Esports & Gaming Management, which could host demonstration events and tournaments in the downtown facility. • Museum Studies, which could organize pop up galleries and exhibitions in the space. • Visual and Performing Arts, which could enhance the vitality of downtown through indoor and outdoor programs • Town/gown meet and greet events at Hoover Community Recreation

Complex, to provide more opportunities for Walsh students, faculty, and staff to interact with city residents. Many Walsh University students complete internships with downtown organizations and agencies, including internships at City Hall. As mentioned in the previous section, Walsh interns could be especially helpful for planning events in the downtown area that are aimed at a younger demographic. Walsh interns could also help the city expand its visibility on social media in ways that address requests from residents for more information about city projects, initiatives, and events.

Action Steps for Connecting University District to Downtown Core

Physical Connections • Completing the streetscape connection between the Walsh University and the downtown area by continuing the existing streetscape enhancements between Taft and

Marquardt for visual continuity. • Give the path a name (i.e. The Walsh Way) and a logo. • Pilot a bikeshare program with fixed stations (not dockless). Programmatic Connections • Survey the Walsh community to better understand the kinds of businesses and events that would bring them downtown. • Develop partnerships between downtown restaurants and Walsh University so students can use their Flex Funding meal plans to order from downtown restaurants. • Showcase Walsh University’s community-oriented programs in their downtown facility • Hire Walsh University interns to work on downtown events and the city’s social media outreach.