Schneider Park

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Haunted Places in Ohio > Haunted Parks

Schneider Park paranormal

Location submitted by: sdonley on 03/17/2026
DBA Approved: N

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370 Schneider Park Dr.
Akron, OH 44313
Open to the public: Yes

Lat: 41.098419
Lon: -81.562703

PANICd#: 2235

Schneider Park in West Akron, Ohio, is a public green space with a somber history as the former burial ground for the Summit County Infirmary (a poor farm) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Database Summary:

Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 5
Evidence: 0
Resources: 1
Retrievals: 12
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0

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History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

Schneider Park in Akron, Ohio, has a history that stretches back to the nineteenth century and is more complex than its quiet appearance suggests today. While it now functions as a neighborhood park with open green spaces and recreational areas, the land was once connected to one of Summit County’s early social welfare institutions. During the mid-1800s, the area was associated with the Summit County Infirmary, a facility created to house and care for the poor, elderly, disabled, and those who had no family to support them. Like many county homes of the era, the infirmary served as a last refuge for individuals who had nowhere else to go.

Throughout the late nineteenth century, the Summit County Infirmary operated as both a residence and a working farm. Residents often helped with labor on the property in exchange for food and shelter. When individuals living at the infirmary died, they were frequently buried nearby on the grounds. These burials were typically simple and modest, reflecting the limited resources available for those who lived there. Many graves were unmarked, and record keeping was inconsistent, making it difficult to determine exactly how many people were buried on the property.

As Akron continued to grow during the early twentieth century, the land surrounding the former infirmary began to change. Real estate developer Philip P. Schneider acquired large sections of the property after the infirmary operations ended. Residential neighborhoods eventually developed much of the land. However, a portion of the property—particularly the swampy or low-lying areas where many graves were believed to be located—was not easily developed. Schneider later donated this land to the city, and it eventually became known as Schneider Park.

For many decades, the park functioned simply as a neighborhood recreational area. Families used the space for walking, playing, and community events, often unaware of the deeper history beneath the soil. The original burial ground associated with the county infirmary gradually faded from public memory, and little visible evidence remained to indicate that the area had once served as a cemetery for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

Recently, interest in the park’s past has resurfaced as historians and researchers have worked to better understand the site’s history. Modern ground-scanning technology has suggested that numerous unmarked graves may still exist beneath parts of the park. This discovery has sparked conversations within the community about preserving the site’s historical significance and honoring those buried there. Today, Schneider Park stands not only as a place for recreation but also as a reminder of Akron’s social history and the lives of individuals who were once largely forgotten.

Added by: sdonley on 03/17/2026 DB#:811
Source(s):
https://signalakron.org/schneider-park-akron-forgo...

Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.

Schneider Park in Akron, Ohio, has quietly developed a reputation in local folklore as a place where the past has never fully faded away. Because the park sits on land that once served as a burial ground for residents of the Summit County Infirmary, many locals believe the area carries a lingering spiritual presence. Over the years, stories have circulated among neighborhood residents, late-night walkers, and curious teenagers about strange occurrences in the park after dark. While none of these tales have been scientifically proven, they have become part of the park’s mysterious reputation.

One of the most commonly told stories involves reports of shadowy figures seen moving across the park’s open fields late at night. Witnesses have described seeing what appears to be someone walking slowly across the grass, only for the figure to vanish when approached. Some believe these apparitions could be the spirits of former infirmary residents whose graves remain beneath the ground. Others think the sightings may simply be tricks of the light from nearby street lamps or passing cars, but the stories continue to circulate in the surrounding community.

Another piece of folklore centers on unexplained sounds heard in the park, particularly during quiet evenings. Some visitors claim to have heard faint whispers, footsteps, or the sound of distant voices when no one else was nearby. A few people have reported hearing what sounds like soft crying or murmured conversations coming from the wooded edges of the park. These experiences have fueled speculation that the spirits of those buried there may still linger, though skeptics often point to wildlife or wind moving through the trees as possible explanations.

Local ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts have occasionally visited Schneider Park in hopes of capturing evidence of supernatural activity. Stories have emerged of unusual readings on electronic equipment, sudden drops in temperature, or strange lights appearing in photographs. While these claims are largely anecdotal, they have helped reinforce the park’s reputation as one of Akron’s lesser-known haunted locations. These investigations often add new layers to the folklore, keeping the stories alive for a new generation.

Today, Schneider Park remains primarily a peaceful neighborhood green space used for recreation and community gatherings. Yet the legends connected to its past continue to spark curiosity and imagination. Whether viewed as ghost stories, urban legends, or reflections of the park’s forgotten history, these tales remind visitors that the land has witnessed many lives and many stories over the years. For some, the possibility that echoes of the past remain is what makes Schneider Park one of Akron’s most intriguing places.

Added by: sdonley on 03/17/2026 DB#: 1772
Source(s): Various

Paranormal Claims

Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.

Claim #	Added	Added By	Claim
4310	03/17/2026	sdonley	Shadowy figures have reportedly been seen walking across the park at night and disappearing when approached.
4311	03/17/2026	sdonley	Strange whispers, faint voices, and unexplained footsteps have been heard when no one else is present.
4312	03/17/2026	sdonley	Some visitors claim to hear soft crying or murmuring coming from the wooded edges of the park.
4313	03/17/2026	sdonley	Paranormal investigators have reported sudden cold spots and unusual readings on electronic equipment.
4314	03/17/2026	sdonley	Others claim strange lights or unexplained shapes sometimes appear in photographs taken in the park after dark.

Schneider Park

Database Summary:

History

Stories & Folklore

Paranormal Claims

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