Once, Fairlawn, Ohio, was a little hamlet that grew into a village that transformed into a populous city with a mix of people who call it home or just a day at the office. Fairlawn contains a diverse mix of amenities for residents and those who just reside there from 9 to 5, including ample shopping, delicious dining and facilities that are dedicated to the health and education of its citizens.
Tom Green, president of the Fairlawn Area Chamber of Commerce and partner at a labor and employment firm Kastner, Westman & Wilkins LLC, explains, “If you look at the community as a bigger picture, there are so many areas from Copley to Bath to Fairlawn to West Akron that have something for every person and at every price point.”
While Fairlawn is home to approximately 7,300 people, the daytime community grows immensely from the commuters to the area each day for work.
“Everything is all right here,” says Green. “Fairlawn is an attractive place for employees. During lunch or after work, an employee can get all their errands done.”
Shopping & Dining
Fairlawn offers plenty of places to shop including Summit Mall located on West Market Street. Summit Mall is home to Dillard’s, Macy’s, Apple, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Build-A-Bear, Gymboree, Sephora and so much more. If you work up an appetite while shopping up a storm, head over to the food court for some mall staples like Subway and Sbarro or if something sit-down is more your taste, P.F. Chang’s offers a wide variety of Asian cuisine or visit The Rail for some all-American burgers and delicious homemade milkshakes.
Green suggests a meal at Cafe Bricco or Ken Stewart’s Lodge, or for something more casual, a stop by Gasoline Alley on Ghent Road.
The Montrose area contains some great options for your family to visit and play.
All Fired Up allows you to paint your own pottery — from mugs and bowls to more creative ventures. Laser Quest is a family-friendly outing of laser tag with glow-in-the-dark equipment and a competitive environment.
Montrose also offers families Regal Cinemas, so you can catch up on the latest summer box office hits.
Swenson’s Drive In, also located in Montrose at 40 Brookmont Road, has been a local staple since the first location opened in 1934. Now with seven locations, Swenson’s is a great spot to stop for its famous Galley Boy (the signature double cheeseburger with two special sauces), a chicken sandwich or anything in between.
Laurie Beisecker, director of parks and recreation for Fairlawn, recommends Earth Fare as a must-see spot to visit while in town. Earth Fare is a supermarket that carries organic food with the mission to make healthy eating easy, affordable and convenient.
Beisecker explains the appeal of a place like Fairlawn, she says, “It’s a small community but big during the day from all the businesses that we have here. It definitely has a small-town feel even though it’s busy and most people who live here know everyone.”
A Place To Live
Many facilities in the Fairlawn area strive to take care of its residents’ health, education and overall well-being. With excellent schools, public and private, and healthcare services to rival Cleveland, Fairlawn holds its own when it comes to taking care of its people.
The Copley-Fairlawn City Schools district is composed of five educational buildings that are Arrowhead Primary School, Fort Island Primary School, Herberich Primary School, Copley-Fairlawn Middle School and Copley High School.
The school district is also a member of the Four Cities Joint Vocational Compact with Barberton, Norton and Wadsworth schools. Vocational classes are offered through this programming option.
Copley-Fairlawn City Schools have received an excellent with distinction status from the Ohio State Board of Education.
St. Hilary School, associated with the Diocese of Cleveland, is a two-time recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in education in 2001 and 2008. St. Hilary has been an institution in the Fairlawn community since 1959.
The Fairlawn area has several medical facilities and hospitals to keep your family in great health. Lifestyles at Akron General’s Health & Wellness Center is a medically supervised fitness location that provides the community with an overall wellness model. The goal at Lifestyles is preventative health and not just treating someone when there is a problem. The facility at 4125 Medina Road offers an indoor rock climbing wall, fitness classes, indoor and outdoor track, indoor lap pools, a steam room and more.
Summa Urgent Care, located at 2875 W. Market St., Suite B, treats patients with no appointments necessary. Doctors are on call at all times to tend to your most urgent needs and Summa Urgent Care provides many services including digital X-ray, allergies, fractures, colds, pneumonia and more.
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center, in partnership with Summa Health System and Crystal Clinic, is located at 3975 Embassy Parkway. The center specializes in treatments for ailments that affect the musculoskeletal system. The center’s board-certified surgeons are available to offer comprehensive care and treatment.
Parks & Outdoors
For those not inclined to spend a day indoors at the mall, Fairlawn provides just as many outdoor options as it does shopping locations. With lush greenery, plenty of walking trails, play equipment and outdoor programming, the parks system of Fairlawn is the perfect place to spend a day this summer.
Bicentennial Park, located on South Smith Road, is two acres of land with a gazebo, paved walkways and landscaping that is host to numerous community events such as the summer concert series, Stewart’s Caring Place Hope Walk and the Fourth of July fireworks.
Croghan Park opened in 1972 at the intersection of North Miller Road and Sand Run Parkway, and contains 7.5 acres with three tennis courts, two basketball courts, picnic tables, a playground, walking path, two handball courts and benches in a sheltered area. Croghan Park also co-hosts, with Griffiths Park, the park department’s free summer park program.
Fairlawn Park on Ridgewood Road is home to the community garden and soccer fields. The community garden consists of plots of land that belong to Fairlawn residents to plant and tend throughout the year. Plots are purchased in three- or one-year contracts.
Fort Island/Griffiths Park on Trunko Road has a combined area of 60 acres and includes Schocalog Run, a small creek. Griffiths Park houses the Learning Resource Center as well as four tennis courts, two basketball courts, a playground, an elevated boardwalk and paved trails. The park features woodlands, wet marsh areas and glacial land formations that lend to the park’s unique landscape.
