Sediments dredged from the bottom of the Cuyahoga River would create the new parkland, which would be connected by different paths.
CLEVELAND – What’s Next for the Cleveland Lakefront? How about a new island on Lake Erie?
For the first time it is Cleveland Metorparks shares a draft plan to create approximately 80 acres of green space by widening the east coastline and creating an island off the coast between East 55th Marina and Gordon Park. Sediments dredged from the bottom of the Cuyahoga River would create the new parkland, which would be connected by different paths.
The plan would make the lake more accessible to the Cleveland boroughs, create a habitat for birds, and provide a buffer for I-90.
“We are trying to renew that confidence in the actual east side of Cleveland, the East 55th to East 72nd Gordon Park region,” said Brian Zimmerman, CEO of Cleveland Metroparks. “It really means collaboration, and it really means a lot to the community, really talking about what a new park, green space and infrastructure improvement development can do on the east side of Cleveland.”
The Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Study, or CHEERS, is a year-long study that aims to attract funding opportunities from local, state, and federal dollars. Many agencies – including ODNR, ODOT, the Port of Cleveland, and others – are involved.
Zimmerman says it is possible and that we’ve seen it before.
“It’s almost like a building block to me,” said Zimmerman as he completed a small portion of the project with unique funding partners. “It’s a very stackable project that will take some time to complete. This is no different from the way Edgewater Park was created.
“Edgewater didn’t look like that [it does] years ago. It has been filled and drawn out, and this may be the next iteration. I know there are talks about dredges and dredging material, but we want to make sure that we are partnered and that it is clean and that we can really create this wonderful atmosphere. “
The Metroparks want to hear your reaction. there is a Online meeting to collect feedback Thursday at 7 p.m. There are also some physical ones “Walks” this weekend on site.
