CLEVELAND, Ohio - First, they cleaned up the beach. Now the Cleveland Metroparks has moved on to bigger projects at Edgewater Park, which the system took over from the state of Ohio in 2013.

The Metroparks has just announced plans to construct a 12,000-square-foot two-story Beach House that will include a fast-casual eatery, a sundries shop and significantly, an elevated walkway from West 76th Street to Edgewater.

"In 2014, Edgewater saw over 1.2 million visitors, and in response to the public and as an outcome of our master planning process, we saw a new beach house was desired," says Sean McDermott, chief planning and design officer for the Cleveland Metroparks. "In our striving to bring first-class facilities to our park guests, this was identified as a need."

On the first floor, the Beach House will include a shop for souvenirs and beach necessities; new restrooms; new rinsing stations; and a concession stand for ice cream, hot dogs other fast foods.

It's on the second floor where things get really exciting. The indoor-outdoor area will feature the fast-casual eatery, which will also serve alcoholic beverages. It will be able to seat 65 to 75 diners, with tables both inside and on the deck. "With the movable wall, the goal is to have as much open air as possible," says McDermott. They have not yet determined whether it will be a counter or table-order facility. The food concessions on both floors will be operated by the Metroparks.

"The second-floor deck will haven some pretty incredible views of the lake and sunsets to the west, and downtown to the east," he adds.

The second-floor deck will also serve another very important function. It will be connected to the West 76th Street tunnel entrance to the beach via a 180-foot open-air elevated walkway.

"We wanted to make sure that the Beach House had strong connections with both the beach and pedestrians and the neighborhood," says McDermott. "We feel that the link between the pedestrian tunnel and the second floor of the Beach House demonstrates that strong connection."

Ward 15 Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone says this connectivity with the city is key.

"It's all about creating these connective tissues. The best cities in the world pay attention to details, and this plan does that. It allows people who are walking or biking or driving to have greater access to our greatest natural resource."

The new Beach House will be located about 200 feet south of the current beach house that dates back to the 1970s. That beach house will remain open for the summer of 2015, serving its usual hot dogs and ice cream.

"By moving the building south, it will greatly increase the view as you approach the beach from the parking lot," says McDermott. "Now visitors are greeted by the back side of a building -- it's not exactly the welcome we want to give. We want the first impression to be of the beach. By removing those buildings, we provide an uninterrupted view. On your arrival at the beach, you see the beach."

Echoes Zone, "the orientation of the Beach House is key. Now when people drive in, all they really see is a big building that is really not that attractive. By moving it to the south, people will be able to see the whole shoreline of the beach. It will create this dramatic experience."

Construction will begin on the new Beach House after Labor Day, with the goal of being opened by summer 2016. The building is designed by Cleveland's Bialosky + Partners Architects.

McDermott declined to provide the cost of the project while contracts are being finalized. He did say a portion will be funded by money the parks received from the state in 2013.

Zone says the significance of the new Beach House for the park, and community, is huge.

"The Metroparks took over this park in 2013, and within the first year, they paid attention to basics. They made sure it was manicured and clean and safe. Last year they doubled down on those elements and improved the physical appearance of the park, and on top of that began programming like Edgewater Live [free Thursday night concerts].

"Each year people are seeing improvements being made and investments in the park. We haven't seen this level of investment in more than 35 years."

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Ward 15 Councilman Matt Zone and Cudell Improvement Inc. will host a public meeting at Louisa May Alcott School, 10308 Baltic Road, at which Sean McDermott, chief planning and design officer for the Cleveland Metroparks, will present the Metroparks' plans for the new Edgewater Beach House. The Ohio Department of Transportation will share details on upcoming improvements and reconstruction along the West Shoreway.