Completion of the Towpath Trail to Canal Basin Park-in the very capable hands of the Ohio Canal Corridor with assists from the Trust for Public Land, Canal Basin Park is a great candidate for a Metropark
Completion of Towpath Trail to Whiskey Island-the Towpath Trail gives the Cuyahoga River Valley a recreational and visitor friendly component to one of the great industrial valleys of the world. It connects (continuously) for 60 miles south of the lake via the Ohio Canal It brings the Metroparks to the lakefront via a continuous multi- purpose trail which they have long stated is necessary for their lakefront involvements. We are encouraged by the Parkworks led effort to connect Canal Basin Park and Whiskey Island.
A better connection between Edgewater Park and Whiskey Island so the parks are easier to move between. The existing road is not pedestrian/bike friendly.
Agreement that the Metroparks are the key to connecting and improving the lakefront park system. Metroparks are well suited to take over Dike 14 (Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve). The County has long said it would welcome them at Wendy Park/Whiskey Island as the County does not emphasize parks. The multipurpose trails to connect the various parks on the lakefront are also best done by the Metroparks. Whether Metroparks needs to “take over” all parks from the City and State is another topic.
A bridge from Whiskey Island to the Port Authority area north of the existing Conrail Bridge. A multipurpose trail that would connect Whiskey Island and North Coast Harbor. We suggest that the RTA Waterfront Line is close to an ideal connection if the rails were taken out and rubber tired vehicles were used (think Lolly the Trolley). With a “Lolly”, the “road” or trail could be shared..
A multipurpose trail from North Coast Harbor to E 55th. The existing Lakefront Bikeway needs an upgrade to say the least. We would suggest shifting to the South Marginal Road where there is more room for a multipurpose trail, neighborhood access, and 2 City parks (Kirtland and Harold T Clark). The North Marginal does not have room for a multipurpose trail near 55th.
North Coast Harbor: We hope the new Coast Guard Station facility better utilizes space in this area. We also note the Port Authority thinks the NE corner of their facility could be redeveloped to offices/housing. We do not make suggestions for Burke Airport as we think there is 5 to 10 years (min) of projects named above that are needed to connect the lakefront from east to west as well to the south. These connections are needed to complete a lakefront park system and are the basic “spine” of a public waterfront.. We also note the lack of a “good” restaurant in this area.
Villa Angela/Wildwood/Euclid Beach. This state park area was left out of the planning effort that resulted in the City’s Waterfront District Plan It is a major attraction in the public waterfront arena.
The Cleveland Lakefront Conservancy: We have presented the case for a Conservancy at this website. We think efforts to forge a great lakefront park system will be hampered without an active and capable Conservancy.
1951 photo of U.S Coast Guard Station at Whiskey Island (J. Milton Dyer, architect, 1940). Click image to enlarge.