CLEVELAND, Ohio - The new Edgewater Beach House is about more than concerts and food and drink and a place to watch a sunset.

The 12,000 square-foot, open-air two-story structure that opens Friday is about connections: connections with the community through improved access, connections with the past, and re-connecting Clevelanders with the lakefront.

"It was very important to us to connect the park to community," says Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman. That includes much improved access from the Detroit-Shoreway area that had previously been cut off from the beach located just on the other side of the Shoreway.

A walkway from West 76th Street leads directly into the Beach House's second floor. Access for drivers exiting the Shoreway is also much improved, thanks to a new traffic roundabout. A new walking trail, which will be lit later this summer, leads directly to West Boulevard. The West 73rd Street underpass, opened last December, has also greatly increased access to the park.

"We worked hard to improve flow on the grounds," says Zimmerman. "We're creating intentional connections."

(See a video walk-though with Brian Zimmerman below.)

But most importantly, the new Edgewater improvements are about bringing people to the water.

"This was an important opportunity to really reconnect Cleveland with the lakefront," says Zimmerman.

In addition to the Beach House, the renovations include the new Centennial Plaza in front of the building, new signage, the traffic roundabout and grounds improvements. The cost was $1.1 million for site improvements, $3.3 million for the building and $200,000 for Centennial Plaza. The Plaza will be the site of the opening band for the weekly Edgewater Live series beginning June 8.

The Beach House, an airy structure of blond wood, glass and metal built to resemble a ship, was designed by Bialosky Cleveland architects. The Albert M. Higley Company was the construction firm.

Ground was broken last September. It's the fourth such facility on the location, the most famous being the 1914 Spanish Mission-style bath house, which even included bathing suit rentals and room rentals. It was demolished in 1950. (Click here for historic Edgewater photos).

"That's been gone for 60 years, but people still talk about it," says Zimmerman.

"We looked at the history of the park and what Edgewater means to Clevelanders. We listened to so many people sharing stories of coming down to Edgewater for years and years. This was an opportunity to connect the beach with its past."

The lower level of the house features concession windows, surrounded by tables covered with umbrellas. The back ground level area includes several wooden picnic tables. There will also be swings hanging from the elevated walkway. The first floor will also include changing areas in the restrooms.

The second floor includes the full-service bar, as well as picnic tables surrounding a huge double-sided fireplace. On both levels, tables may be used for outside food or items purchased from the Metroparks. There is seating for 250.

"The facility is inclusive and welcoming to all," says Zimmerman. "We're working to return the park and beach as an asset and destination for the community."

The idea of connections carries over the menus. "Tying the food and drink into the local community was important," says Jarrod McCarthy, Senior Manager of Enterprise Operations.

All of the beers on tap in the bar will local, including Great Lakes Brewing Company, Platform Brewing, Fatheads and Brick and Barrel. They will also serve some canned domestic and craft beers (no glass bottles allowed). There will be six signature cocktails, including a Bloody Mary and cucumber margarita.

"We wanted drinks you would get on vacation, refreshing and summery," says McCarthy.

Food options upstairs are shareable grab-and-go platters, again with locally sourced cheeses, meats and produce.

Downstairs, the concession windows will feature locally sourced foods, too, including Ohio Beef burgers and hot dogs, local organic chicken, bratwurst sandwiches and pierogi. Yes, pierogi at the beach.

"We had to have them in Cleveland," says McCarthy. Honey Hut ice cream will return to Edgewater beach.

The Edgewater Beach House will have open access year-round. The concession windows will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during beach season. The second-floor bar will be open 4 - 10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 1 - 8 p.m. Sundays during the season.

"There really is something for everyone to enjoy at the Beach House," says Zimmerman.

"It's a very unique opportunity for Clevelanders to reconnect with the lakefront. We're putting the flag in and saying we are a beach community."