The new Safety Initiative furthers DAP’s mission to promote and build a vibrant and valuable downtown. Recent surveys have indicated that members of DAP believe downtown to be safe, but that the perception of safety can be elevated for its employees, customers and visitors. The Safety Initiative will help to ensure that visitors feel confident in their personal safety and have a positive downtown experience.

"It is a great time to launch a new Safety Initiative," said Kimberlee McKee, president of DAP. "With the grand opening of the Metro Intermodal Transit Center, we will see a change in traffic patterns around downtown. Thanks to a partnership with Metro Regional Transit Authority, we are able to have safety ambassadors patrol downtown, assisting with this change to keep downtown Akron a clean and safe place to work, live and play."

The most visible change with the new Safety Initiative is the presence of nine ambassadors on the streets of downtown Akron. One part-time and two full-time Operation Neat Streets ambassadors that perform cleaning and communications functions have served downtown for the last seven years. Six new members of the cleaning and safety ambassador team will be added to the 42 blocks that encompass the Special Improvement District (SID). Through the partnership with Metro, safety ambassadors will also patrol outside the SID into the area around the transit center. As an added safety measure, ambassadors will patrol during extended evening and weekend hours.

"Along with the Ambassador Program, the Downtown Akron Partnership has developed a Downtown Safety Initiative that will involve the entire downtown business community. By working together with the Akron Police Department, private building security companies, business and property owners, this initiative will be a crucial step in preventing crimes," said McKee.

"This program will enable METRO to have a mechanism to improve and maintain the area around our bus stops. It will provide and enhance our ability to provide passenger information on the street," explains Robert Pfaff, METRO executive director.

The Safety Initiative takes a three-pronged approach to ensuring that visitors feel safe. In addition to more cleaning and safety ambassadors on the streets, a communications network will be developed between the businesses located downtown and new safety outreach will be designed specifically targeted to different downtown users.

Safety Ambassador Program

"By increasing the number of ambassadors on the streets of downtown Akron, we are increasing the number of eyes and ears that can focus on deterring unwanted behaviors such as loitering and panhandling," said McKee.

Safety Ambassadors are highly trained in first aid, safety/police procedures, conflict management and customer relations. They will perform functions such as walking and bicycle patrols, public relations checks in downtown businesses, act as safety escorts, answer questions about transit and other downtown amenities, share information with visitors and provide event support.

Cleaning Ambassadors will perform enhanced services, including litter collection, graffiti removal, weed abatement, power washing and other special projects as needed. Special attention will be paid to bus stops.

"One of the features we’ve wanted to make available for quite some time is the availability of safety escorts," said McKee. "If you’re working late in the office a safety escort can be requested to take you to your car or public transportation within the Special Improvement District."

Ambassadors will be trained by Block by Block, a company that has been extremely successful in enhancing downtown revitalization efforts around the country by combining the core principles of a clean and safe environment to spur economic development efforts.

Engaging the Business Community

A new communications network will be designed that brings private security staff and others who work in a safety capacity downtown together for information sharing. DAP, in partnership with the Akron Police Department, will educate and train downtown businesses on current safety topics during block watch meetings. Feedback from the ambassadors and the security and safety personnel will provide the opportunity to track downtown patterns and alert businesses of real or potential problems.

Safety Outreach

New communications such as publications, press releases and emails, will convey safety messages to downtown visitors and businesses on topics such as panhandling, personal safety and other emerging issues. DAP staff will analyze the safety needs and concerns of different downtown users and design creative ways to reach each market with critical safety information. By reminding people how to stay safe, the feeling of safety will be elevated and measures taken to ensure downtown stays one of Akron’s safest neighborhoods will be reinforced.

About Downtown Akron Partnership

The mission of DAP is to promote and build a vibrant and valuable downtown. DAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people, activity, business and a thriving civic life to the heart of Akron. Through strategic marketing, clean and safe programs and management of downtown's resources, DAP works to promote downtown as a gathering place in the center of our community.

DAP’s members include property owners, business leaders and government officials who want to improve the image of downtown as a safe, convenient location for businesses, working professionals and families. DAP is governed by a Board of Trustees as diverse as the interests of our city.

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