Lakewood Park improvement

This is a rendering of plans for Lakewood Park after a $2 million improvement project is completed. (Courtesy of city of Lakewood)

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Construction is beginning on a $2 million project to enhance lake access at Lakewood Park, with a lower and upper promenade called the Solstice Steps.

Great Lakes Construction Co., of Hinkley, will build stairs from the top of a bluff to the waterline below, with seating in between. The steps will offer residents better views of Lake Erie and Downtown Cleveland, city officials said.

"We see this as a pivotal step in increasing access to green space, without changing the footprint of the park," Mayor Michael Summers said.

Construction begins next week, said city Planning and Development Director Dru Siley. The rest of the park, including baseball fields, will remain open throughout the summer.

The city originally planned to complete the project by June 21, the date of this year's summer solstice. However, project delays stemming in part from receiving EPA approvals for the project, delayed the start of construction. The Ohio EPA wanted the city to address storm water runoff.

To offset possible water runoff issues, the city agreed to replace some of the existing asphalt parking at Lakewood Park with pervious pavement, which will allow the ground to absorb more rainwater.

The city hired Environment Design Group last fall for $25,000 to prepare preliminary designs for the park improvements. The group prepared a video that shows how the project will appear once completed. The video appears at the bottom of this story.

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