Lakefront Reservation

Lakefront Reservation is a 419-acre park system located along the southern shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio. Managed by Cleveland Metroparks since 2013, it encompasses several distinct areas including Edgewater Park, Gordon Park, and Wendy Park.

The reservation provides public access to Lake Erie's shoreline, offering beaches, trails, boating facilities, and open green spaces. Edgewater Park, covering 147 acres, features a beach, marina, fishing piers, and a pavilion. It has both an upper wooded level with bike trails and a lower level with beach access. Wendy Park, situated at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, serves as a habitat for nesting and migratory animals and houses a historic Coast Guard Station.

East of the Cuyahoga River, the East 55th Street Marina area includes boat slips, a restaurant, and recreational courts. Gordon Park offers boat ramps, fishing platforms, and picnic facilities. The Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, a former landfill site, now provides essential lakefront habitat and is recognized as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.

The reservation is connected by the Memorial Shoreway (I-90) and a network of foot and bike paths, including the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway. These pathways link the various parks and provide opportunities for walking, jogging, and cycling along the lakefront.

Lakefront Reservation plays a crucial role in providing urban residents access to natural spaces and recreational opportunities. It also serves as an important ecological area, supporting diverse wildlife and plant species along Lake Erie's shore.