By Vivian Neal.

The Gallup study results for Akron are really not a surprise to those of us who live, work, and enjoy the inviting lifestyle in the Akron community. The study found that our stunning parks have long been a strength for the people of Akron. For many years, we’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park, where you can hop on the Towpath Trail in Akron and ride one of the bike lanes to Cleveland!

Another strength noted in the study is our top notch higher education offerings at our local colleges and universities that have been recognized at the local and national levels. This month, the University of Akron’s inaugural opening of their new Info-Cision football stadium received recognition in the sports arena and will hopefully help to fortify Akron’s economy. Knowing your community strengths is great, but having them confirmed by the Gallup research is icing on the cake!

Now on the flip side, Akron needs to continue to work on new ideas and hear from our thriving Young Professional (YP) population that is involved in the Greater Akron region in a number of ways. Research shows that economy is not the key factor in residents' love for Akron but the study did find that positive feelings do have some connection to local GDP growth over a long period of time. I’d be interested in your thoughts on how we can attract and retain our young people in our area.