Bay Village launches Cahoon Memorial Park study, master plan

The City of Bay Village has begun work on a master plan for Cahoon Memorial Park. The plan will focus on lakefront access and connecting the lakefront to the rest of the park.

In 2019, the city was awarded a Coastal Management Assistance Grant by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to conduct a public access study of Bay Point and adjacent shoreline and walking path areas, as well as circulation with and connectivity to the rest of Cahoon Park. The grant will cover 50% of the cost of the access study and a geotechnical study of Bay Point and the bluff along the shore.

This study will build on the results of two studies completed in 2017:  the Bay Village Master Plan and the Cahoon Park Area Connectivity Study conducted by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). The current study will be used to create a master plan to enhance public lakefront access, increase recreational enjoyment of Lake Erie and Cahoon Park, beautify the lakefront setting, and protect and manage existing natural habitat.

Last month, City Council approved a proposal from SmithGroup to lead the study. SmithGroup has extensive experience in Northeast Ohio with this kind of project; they created the master plan for Bradstreet’s Landing in Rocky River and have done much of the design work for the Euclid waterfront projects.

The project Steering Committee, comprised of public- and private-sector community members, held a kickoff meeting for the project on May 13. On May 19and 20, small group input sessions will be held with representatives of local and regional organizations.

Community input is the key to this project. There will be at least three public input sessions for members of the public to discuss their ideas for lakefront access and park connectivity. Given current public health concerns, the format of these meetings hasn’t yet been finalized. The meetings will likely include a combination of in-person and online interaction to encourage participation while meeting health guidelines.

If you are interested in participating in the public input sessions, sign up for the Mayor’s e-newsletter through the city website or follow City of Bay Village on Facebook. Meeting information will be shared there and on the community sign boards.

The project is expected to be complete in the fall. Comments and questions about the project can be directed to me at kkerber@cityofbayvillage.com or 440-899-3412.

Kathryn Kerber

Project Manager, City of Bay Village

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Volume 12, Issue 10, Posted 10:47 AM, 05.19.2020