Questions about walking safety in Akron (Cuyahoga Falls, Barberton: 2009, crime, house)

[powerwalker2009]

Hi there...I just found this site and really enjoy reading all the posts . I have kind of a concern. I've really gotten into power walking lately and enjoying do relatively long walks (15-20 miles). I do most of it in the towpath area and city walking in the Barberton/Norton/Clinton area. I've never had a bad experience yet as far as cars or crime in the 3-4 months I've been doing this. Very nice people in this area.

I wanted to expand my walking and mix it up. I was thinking about taking a walk to my aunt's house which is close to Cuyahoga Falls in the Sackett Hill dr area of Akron. To do this, I would have to walk East Avenue (Kenmore), V Odom and a short trip on N Howard. Never travelling on foot through Akron before, it's got me wondering if this trip would be wise or not. I would be backpacking and using a mp3 player. I've heard it's best to put away the mp3 player when travelling through questionable areas. Does anyone have any suggesions or should I just forget this trip? I walk alone so it's got me doubting myself a bit given some of the crime reports I've read in some of those areas. Just thought I would get some feedback. Thanks!

Doug

[htlong]

why not follow the tow path through akron to memorial pkway hike up uhler to cuyahoga st,to sackett?

[CityGrrl77]

Originally Posted by powerwalker2009

Hi there...I just found this site and really enjoy reading all the posts . I have kind of a concern. I've really gotten into power walking lately and enjoying do relatively long walks (15-20 miles). I do most of it in the towpath area and city walking in the Barberton/Norton/Clinton area. I've never had a bad experience yet as far as cars or crime in the 3-4 months I've been doing this. Very nice people in this area.

I wanted to expand my walking and mix it up. I was thinking about taking a walk to my aunt's house which is close to Cuyahoga Falls in the Sackett Hill dr area of Akron. To do this, I would have to walk East Avenue (Kenmore), V Odom and a short trip on N Howard. Never travelling on foot through Akron before, it's got me wondering if this trip would be wise or not. I would be backpacking and using a mp3 player. I've heard it's best to put away the mp3 player when travelling through questionable areas. Does anyone have any suggesions or should I just forget this trip? I walk alone so it's got me doubting myself a bit given some of the crime reports I've read in some of those areas. Just thought I would get some feedback. Thanks!

Doug

Jeez I wish I had that kind of time on my hands to be going on 15-20 miles walks!
Please tell me that you will be doing this during the day and not at night....
There really is no easy route altho I would rather walk the route that htlong is speaking of, above.
I don't necessarily think you would have any problems altho I don't know if I would want to walk all the way down Howard (especially past Memorial Pkwy/Tallmadge. Towpath will bypass that - atleast according to this map (I dont know where the towpath goes from experience) Towpath Trail Map - Central Summit County Section

I think the towpath picks up officially at North (Howard) right at the Mustill Store. You can take that through to Memorial Pkwy, then up Uhler to Cuyahoga St. If Im not mistaken, there are no sidewalks the full length of Cuyahoga St. though.

[powerwalker2009]

Thanks for the map and info. I'll probably try it the towpath way. I mapped the other route via googlemap with the walking feature. I'll probably ride it by car and locate the towpath areas and try it that way. I didn't realize the towpath extended that far. I can't wait until everything is connected. Btw, I will be walking it during the day . Even in this area, I don't like walking past 10 pm. Thanks again both of you.

[Puddy4LyF]

N. Howard is not a great place to be walking. Check crime maps for Akron. You'll find E. Cuyahoga Falls, N. Howard, and Tallmadge Ave area for crime. As another poster said though, the towpath goes right through it and you alleviate all worries. I've never heard of anything happening on the towpath either. Cuyahoga Falls is completely safe

If it's the morning though, I think that's OK. The bad guys will be sleeping. =P

[CityGrrl77]

lol - that last sentence was funny, Puddy

You are welcome for the info, powerwalker!
And, actually, I think they are working on extending the towpath even further south. y-a-y!

[SquareBetterThanAll]

Originally Posted by Puddy4LyF

N. Howard is not a great place to be walking. Check crime maps for Akron. You'll find E. Cuyahoga Falls, N. Howard, and Tallmadge Ave area for crime. As another poster said though, the towpath goes right through it and you alleviate all worries. I've never heard of anything happening on the towpath either. Cuyahoga Falls is completely safe

If it's the morning though, I think that's OK. The bad guys will be sleeping. =P

Haha... I'll second... fifth... whatever on taking the Towpath. Walking the street during the day probably wouldn't be an issue but still most of Howard (and V. Odom, for that matter) is kinda eh.

[htlong]

is kinda eh..........scary!!!!!!