CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman announced today that the park system will assume ownership and management of Whiskey Island.

The county purchased the property in 2004, and ever since, there has been an expectation that the prime lakefront real estate would become part of the Cleveland Metroparks.

FitzGerald and Zimmerman said the title will not transfer until the end of the year and is subject to approval by County Council and the Metroparks' Board of Commissioners. The park system will not pay for the land, valued at $6.5 million, but is expected to make more than $6 million worth of improvements to Whiskey Island.

Zimmerman said there is no deadline or timetable for the improvements, and the park system is still assessing what needs to be done.

"This very much aligns with our strategic plan," Zimmerman said. "This connects the Cuyahoga River with the shoreline of Lake Erie, via trails."

"This is very much in concert with how we have handled all of our 18 reservations. This unique waterfront property (Whiskey Island) has its own opportunities, the cornerstone of the river, the lake and the community," he said.

Last year Cleveland Metroparks took over management of more than 500 acres of city-owned lakefront parks that had been run by the state.



Metroparks will pay a portion of the FEMA work at Whiskey Island, paying to close out break-wall work there.

The county bought the property from entrepreneur Dan T. Moore III in 2004.

Whiskey Island includes a marina and Wendy Park, so named by Moore in memory of his daughter who died in a skiing accident.

Moore is also one of three Cleveland Metroparks commissioners. In 2012, to avoid any potential conflicts, he, the other board members and Rosalina Fini, the park system's chief legal officer, sought guidance from the Ohio Ethics Commission.

The commission advised that Moore recuse himself from any board action involving the ownership or management of Whiskey Island.

"One enhancement we are looking at is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that will connect the Lake Link Trail to Whiskey Island," Zimmerman said.

The bridge would start at the Willow Street Bridge that crosses the original channel of the Cuyahoga River, running from the Willow Street Bridge and traverse industrial roadway and Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks before landing in Wendy Park.

"It can really showcase the grit of the community, offering views of stone works, shipping and Cargill's operations, a unique part of Cleveland and seen from a unique way (the bridge) to get into the park," Zimmerman said. "It will also make it easier for people to get into Whiskey Island and Wendy Park."

He also said the acquisition and improvements are "complementary to the Leadership Cleveland water-taxi project."

The Lake Link and Towpath trail systems are separate and both end in or near the Flats.

In addition to Whiskey Island, the park system also is getting small parcels on the east and west river banks in the Flats, as well as Heritage Park I in Canal Basin, the northern terminus of the Towpath. All of the parcels total around 70 acres.

The park system has already assumed management of properties along the river that would be linked to the lakefront by the river itself as well as the trail systems. These include

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