gordon park improvements
Gordon Park was donated to the City of Cleveland in 1892, providing access to Lake Erie for residents of Cleveland’s east side neighborhoods. The park was altered by construction of Interstate 90 in the 1950s. Remembered by many as the former location of the Cleveland Aquarium and a former ballfield complex, use of the southern portion of the park declined in recent years.
In October 2023, operation and management of the southern portion of Gordon Park was transferred from the City of Cleveland to Cleveland Metroparks. Site clean-up, tree maintenance, and the removal of several unused structures occurred in late 2023. In 2024, a neighborhood-based planning effort led by LAND studio and their consultant, SmithGroup, was embarked upon to re-envision the park’s future as a neighborhood amenity.
The local community and project team engaged in the process of reimagining the park, prioritizing neighborhood-based goals, and collaborating on a vision for Gordon Park. This process concluded in December 2024 and resulted in a 'Consensus Plan' highlighting different priorities, features, and amenities planned for the park. Click here for more information on the plan.
The Consensus Plan is guiding work by Cleveland Metroparks staff to remove outdated features, expand park access, and activate this lakefront gem. Detailed design of the features and community connections envisioned in the Consensus Plan is now moving forward, with a phasing and initial construction package under development. Phase one construction at Gordon Park will begin in late 2025. Additional phases of work will continue for the foreseeable future. The work is supported by an $8M bequest from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation.
Project Type: New Reservation/Major Park Expansion
Project Phase: Design
Anticipated Construction Timeline: Begin Fall 2025
Contact: Sean McDermott, Chief Planning & Design Officer, 216-635-3258 or [email protected]
Project Size: 48 acre park
Contracting Partner(s): Next Generation Construction
Consulting Partner(s): MKSK, Osborn Engineering, Bialosky
Funding:
- Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation
