Stow City Council unanimously approved a five-year capital plan on Sept. 24 that calls for nearly $57 million in spending through 2031, funneling millions into road resurfacing, sidewalk repairs, stormwater fixes and the city's under-construction AMP amphitheater. The vote capped off a series of readings held in August and September before the plan cleared council without dissent.
The plan, detailed by Cleveland.com, sets aside more than $14 million for asphalt work, $8 million for concrete repairs and $1.5 million for sidewalks over the five-year span. For 2027 specifically, council approved a $13.75 million capital plan that includes about $4.75 million for road improvements — $2.5 million of that for asphalt work and $240,000 for crack sealing — plus $335,000 for sidewalks.
Funding Sources Behind the 2027 Budget
The 2027 capital improvements fund is expected to provide nearly $8 million toward the plan, according to the same report. The water capital fund will contribute $2 million, while cell tower revenue and the stormwater management fund will each kick in $1 million. Lodging tax revenue is set to provide $335,000.
Road work isn't the only line item drawing attention. Stow plans to resurface Graham Road in spring or early summer 2027, with $150,000 set aside in the same year for engineering-related work tied to a Graham Road connectivity project. During discussion of that project, resident Cyle Feldman questioned the city's approach to funding pedestrian connections, according to the report, and Graham Road residents reportedly expressed disappointment with plans to connect their street to others.
Stormwater and Dam Work Included in the Package
Stormwater improvements make up a significant chunk of the five-year plan, including $330,000 for improvements in stormwater district 12 in 2027 alone. The plan also allocates nearly $1.5 million to Meadowbrook Lake dam embankment improvements and $650,000 to Meadowbrook Lake dredging, both pegged to 2027. Additional stormwater projects include drainage and storm-sewer work across several neighborhoods, and the plan sets aside $2 million for traffic-signal improvements as part of a broader push to maintain and upgrade the city's transportation infrastructure.
City officials said they did not want to set aside large amounts of money for projects that weren't ready to move forward, per the same report, noting the plan can be adjusted if engineering determines a project is ready to proceed during the year.
The AMP Gets a Major Piece of the Pie
Among the plan's biggest single projects is The AMP, the amphitheater rising at the former Town Centre Shopping Center at Norton and Darrow roads. The capital plan allocates $3.6 million to the venue from 2027 through 2029, including $1.2 million in 2027, funded in part by cell tower revenue. Construction officially began April 12, according to a separate Cleveland.com report, and the project is expected to be completed in 2027.
That report also noted Western Reserve Hospital signed on as the second-stage sponsor of The AMP in July, though financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed. The planned venue is set to include a covered main stage, lawn seating for more than 2,000 people and public gathering space. City officials say the venue is intended to draw visitors to the Darrow Road corridor and nearby businesses.
The AMP's ambitions trace back to how the site was assembled in the first place. Stow-Hudson Investment Co. agreed to substantially upgrade the surrounding site and recruit new restaurants and businesses, according to the Beacon Journal, which reported the venue was envisioned as the heart of a Stow entertainment district hosting ticketed events, markets, festivals, city recreation programs, outdoor movies and live sports streams.
A Separate Push for an Outdoor Drinking District
Council is also moving forward with a proposed designated outdoor refreshment area, or DORA, that would connect The AMP with nearby businesses including Giant Eagle and Spicy Sombreros. The proposal would allow customers to carry alcoholic drinks between participating businesses and the amphitheater, though it remains separate from the capital plan itself.
City officials say the DORA is intended to help turn the area around The AMP into a dining and entertainment district and attract more businesses, according to Cleveland.com's coverage of the proposal. The effort reflects Stow's broader push to make the AMP area a destination for entertainment, restaurants and other businesses beyond just the amphitheater's stage and lawn.
