Cleveland’s lakefront is about to get a major makeover, as city leaders plan to make the area more fun, accessible and eco-friendly. 

The plan seems poised to move forward in 2027 in spite of challenges such as a freeze in federal funds and the Cleveland Browns plan to move to Brook Park. 

“[This project is driven by the need for] a world-class lakefront that is welcoming and creates joy for all Clevelanders,” said Allison Lukacsy-Love, Managing Director for Major Projects at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, an organization dedicated to economic development in Northeast Ohio.

In 2021, GCP was asked to help the City of Cleveland bring the vision of a great waterfront to life. 

GCP conducted research on ways to approach the planning and construction process in an attempt to move projects forward through consecutive administrations of city government. The goal is for Cleveland to finally follow through with a solid plan for the lakefront to bring their creative vision to life. 

One of the major things holding our lakefront back is the old mainline freight railroad along the lakefront that has been there since the 1800s. 

No other major Great Lakes city has a freight railroad blocking access to the waterfront, and if they did in the past, it was removed. 

According to Lukacsy-Love, GCP’s advocacy has raised more than $130 million towards the project. 

In addition, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation awarded a nearly $70 million grant to Cleveland in the last weeks of the Biden administration to go towards helping to transform the lakefront. This grant was secured with the help of Mayor Justin Bibb and former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

According to Lukacsy-Love, this plan represents is the 17th attempt to improve Cleveland’s lakefront since 1903, with a focus on fairness, opportunities for everyone and protecting the environment. 

To ensure that the lakefront transformation moved forward effectively, city leaders created the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (NCWDC), which oversees the planning of the project.

“In 2024 alone, more than $130 million was invested in state and federal grants for Cleveland’s river and lakefront areas,” Lukacsy-Love said.  

However, Scott Skinner, Executive Director of the NCWDC, says the project is currently facing uncertainty regarding the federal funding of the project. 

Skinner explained that while no major policy shifts have occurred, there have been pauses on federal funding allocations.

“Our understanding of what the Trump administration is doing is evaluating all the dollars that have already been allocated in a specific program and potentially specific projects,” he said.

Despite this uncertainty, Skinner remains optimistic about funding coming through. 

“We’re cautiously optimistic [about] the funding that has been announced to date from the federal government, which is $60 million [from a Dept. of Transportation INFRA grant] and $70 million from the program called Reconnecting Community,” he told the Beachcomber in early March.

“Roads and bridges are pretty popular… and this project represents an enormous opportunity for economic development in our region,” he said 

Skinner emphasized that the efforts are ongoing to ensure the project stays on track. 

“Right now what we’re doing is making sure that we’re communicating the values of this project to our partners in the federal government on both sides [of the aisle] to continue to advocate for the City of Cleveland,” he said.

Even if federal funding does face delays, alternative funding sources are being explored.

“Last year we also secured $20 million and state money which is not up for federal review and … that’s important [because] while we are waiting on the federal funds, we still have the resources available to move forward from the side of engineering work,” he said. “We can continue our design work without having to slow down while this pause is in effect.”

One big part of the plan is the North Coast Connector, a land bridge over I-90 which will make it easier to get from downtown Cleveland to the lake. So far, the project has gotten over $80 million to build the connector with bike lanes and sidewalks.

Protecting the environment is another major focus of this project. Planners want to replace old industrial walls with natural wetlands to help clean the water and manage rain runoff. 

“The important concept of reciprocity with one’s environment–something we’ve learned from the Lake Erie Native American Council–must be rebalanced,” Lukacsy-Love said. “The wetlands will also teach visitors about Lake Erie’s natural history. Most of the new lakefront will be green, open spaces for everyone to enjoy with about 75% of the area set aside for public use.”

The plan isn’t just about parks and nature: it’s also about bringing new businesses and fun activities to the lakefront. For example, a market hall will give people more dining options and help small businesses grow. 

“We heard overwhelmingly that people wanted dining options,” Lukacsy-Love said. Events like drive-in movie nights and family-friendly activities have already started to bring people to the area, with more events planned for 2025. 

Community feedback has been a big part of the project. 

“Before the landscape architects began drawings, they listened first,” Lukacsy-Love said.

Over 5,000 residents have shared their opinions through surveys, meetings and focus groups. The team has even visited schools to hear what young people want for their lakefront. 

There are also ways for students and young professionals to get involved. Lukacsy-Love encouraged students to visit the project website to share ideas and look into internships or other opportunities. 

“Developing amenities like our lakefront will create that allure for the next generation that can live, work and play whenever they want,” she said. 

As Cleveland’s Lakefront project moves forward, the goal is clear: to create a space where everyone can enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie while also boosting the city’s economy and protecting the environment. 

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Image from North Coast master plan / clevelandnorthcoast.com / public domain