CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's a beautiful Sunday night in Cleveland, Ohio. Thousands of Clevelanders are picnicking along Lake Erie at Edgewater Park, or just taking a stroll through the new trails that wind through the lakefront reservation. Others are splashing in the shallow waters off-shore. Many are positioning themselves in the new Edgewater Beach House for a view of the sunset, cocktails and ice cream in hand.



A year ago, the picture would have been different. Five years ago, it would have been much different. Since the Cleveland Metroparks took over the Cleveland lakefront in 2013, the agency has transformed the parks, cleaning and restoring them and bringing Clevelanders back to the water.

The Beach House, which opened at the end of May, is the most prominent example of those efforts. It's a 12,000-square-foot, gorgeous, two-floor open-air structure reachable from both the park level and via a bridge from West 76th Street.



"It was very important to us to connect the park to the community," said Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman at the time of the opening.

In addition to the Beach House, the renovations at Edgewater 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 aptly named plaza is the perfect spot for the Cleveland party of the year.

Yes, Cleveland's park system is celebrating its centennial -- this weekend, in fact. And the new Beach House, the most visible of recent park efforts to keep the city connected to its green spaces and waterfront, will be the site of the Centennial Celebration on Saturday, July 22.

"Yesterday, we were asked to be part of the 100 Year Club in Cleveland, and it didn't hit me until then the magnitude of what the Metroparks [have] meant to the community for the last 100 years," said Zimmerman last week.



"This Metroparks district was formed for all the citizens of Cleveland 100 years ago with the very first three acres of land, and it's still here."

It's not just "still here," though. The Metroparks system has thrived over the last century.

Today, the park system has 23,000 acres across 18 reservations in Northeast Ohio. It was all the idea of Cleveland Parks engineer William A. Stinchcomb. In 1905, he came up with the idea of creating "an outer system of parks and boulevards" in Northeast Ohio. The lifelong nature lover lobbied for the creation of ring of parks to preserve the river and creek valleys surrounding the city.



A county park board was formed in 1911, the first step in his vision. New legislation was passed for the appropriation of funds in 1915. Stinchcomb presented plans for the park system at the National City Planning Conference in 1916. Finally, in 1917, Ohio House Bill 183 passed on March 6, approving the "conservation of natural resources by the creation, development and improvement of park districts." The Metroparks system was officially established on July 23, 1917.

Stinchcomb's dream was realized. In 1919, the board made its first purchase, 3.4 acres along the Rocky River.

"There have so many big moments since the inception," says Zimmerman. "To see how the system grew from the nine reservations formed at the inception was very significant."



"In the '70s, when the zoo became part of the Metroparks, was also a pivotal point. And the gradual addition of reservations in the city of Cleveland has been significant. Then, adding the lakefront. There have been so many very unique, iconic moments in Metroparks history.

"We really want to make sure we stay relevant," says Zimmerman.

Looking forward to the next century, Zimmerman is "most excited about the collaboration this park system is embarking on with the Lorain, Summit [and] Medina park systems, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

"We're looking strategically at the next 100 years to reconnect more than 70,000 acres."

But first, it's time for the city to party.



"You only get to celebrate 100 years once," says Kelly Manderfield, the Metroparks' chief marketing officer. "It's really interesting to hear the stories and impact that the Metroparks [have] provided to so many thousands of families. It's such a source of pride for the community."

A 22-minute fireworks display launched from a barge in Lake Erie will cap off the daylong festivities Saturday.

"As Cleveland's hometown bank, we are honored to partner with Cleveland Metroparks to present the Centennial Fireworks Celebration," says KeyCorp Chairman and CEO Beth Mooney. "We look forward to another 100 years of partnership and support."

Local bands will play all day long leading up to that, culminating in a set by Cleveland favorite Michael Stanley & Friends.

"As much as this is a celebration of the Cleveland Metroparks, it's really a Cleveland-centric event, and what better musician to headline that than Michael Stanley & Friends?" says Manderfield.

There will be food and drink specials at the Beach House, too, including a special Centennial Sundae made by Honey Hut in partnership with Lilly Handmade Chocolates, a chocolate and vanilla concoction featuring "Metroparks Bark," cranberries and nuts. There will also be 15 local food trucks on-site.

"We could not be more excited to celebrate with the community at these free events," says Manderfield.

What you need to know to go

Where: Edgewater Park

When: Saturday, July 22

Music and entertainment:

2:30 p.m., Forecast

4 p.m., Trios

5:30 p.m., Old Boy

7 p.m., Billy Morris and the Sunset Strip

9 p.m., Michael Stanley & Friends

9:40 p.m., Fireworks! (Custom choreographed fireworks display with music courtesy of WHLK FM/106.5 "The Lake"; the show will be live-streamed on WUAB Channel 43.)



Stay connected: Join the conversation using #KeyFireworks! And, follow along on Cleveland Metroparks Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat accounts.

More info: https://clevelandmetroparks.com/



Arrive early: Due to the expected high attendance, all guests are encouraged to arrive at Edgewater Park, Whiskey Island, Wendy Park and all other marinas and yacht clubs by early afternoon. Vehicular access to park entrances will close as the parking lots reach capacity.



Use alternate transportation: Walk or ride your bike from the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood through the pedestrian tunnel located at West 76th Street.

The Beach House has bike parking north of the new building, plus the green bike box near the beach.

There will be a designated ride share drop-off zone.



Cleveland Metroparks Memories Campaign: Keep an eye on Cleveland Metroparks social media properties as a new video series is unveiled featuring recognizable Clevelanders sharing their favorite Cleveland Metroparks memories. Share your Cleveland Metroparks memories using #KeyMemories.



Sunday, July 23: The Metroparks are encouraging people in the community to go and use the parks on the actual 100th birthday, Sunday, July 23.