CLEVELAND — In what is being called a “historic and transformative investment,” the Cleveland Metroparks announced Tuesday they’ve received a $13 million gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation.
Cleveland Metroparks officials say it’s the largest private donation received in the park district’s history, which will be used to “support two of Cleveland Metroparks’ key initiatives along the lakefront.”
These plans include the construction of the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway from East 9th Street to East 55th Street and neighborhood investment through the acquisition and transformation of the southern portion of Gordon Park.
CLEVELAND LAKEFRONT BIKEWAY
$5 million of the gift will be used for advancing construction of the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway between E. 9th and E. 55th streets along North Marginal Road on the city’s east side.
“This new 2.7-mile off-road paved segment of the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway will connect to the existing portion of the bikeway from E. 55th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and provide much needed safe access to the lakefront on foot or by bicycle to the St. Clair Superior and Glenville neighborhoods,” according to a press release from Cleveland Metroparks.
Construction on the trail is expected to begin in the summer of 2024 in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). The goal is to have the project completed by the end of 2025.
“The new trail will provide the millions of visitors and guests to Cleveland’s lakefront with a direct connection from downtown to University Circle,” officials said.
GORDON PARK
$8 million of the Mandel Foundation’s gift looks to expand the lease and management of Gordon Park to include the 48-acre southern portion of the park east of E. 72nd Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
“Following a robust community engagement process, targeted and strategic investments will be made in the park to serve visitors and the neighborhoods adjacent to the historic park including upgraded infrastructure, water play components and baseball field improvements,” according to Cleveland Metroparks. “The gift from the Mandel Foundation will support Cleveland Metroparks’ work with community partners to create a cohesive lakefront park on the east side of the city of Cleveland, connecting the neighborhoods of St. Clair Superior and Glenville to Lake Erie, improving the E. 72nd Street corridor and activating the entire Gordon Park with a variety of active and passive recreational amenities.”
REACTION
Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman
“The gift from the Mandel Foundation is a historic and transformative investment in Cleveland Metroparks and Cleveland’s east side neighborhoods. We are excited to work closely with the City of Cleveland, Councilman Anthony Hairston and our neighborhood partners on the revitalization of Gordon Park and improving connections from the St. Clair Superior neighborhood to our lakefront.”
Jehuda Reinharz, Mandel Foundation President & CEO
“The grant awarded to Cleveland Metroparks will serve as a catalyst for tremendous investment in furthering lakefront access and recreational opportunities for all our citizens, but especially the residents of neighborhoods that are adjacent to Lake Erie within the City of Cleveland. The investment is a significant part of our effort to strengthen neighborhoods and provide our fellow citizens an enhanced quality of life.”
Stephen H. Hoffman, Chairman of the Board of the Mandel Foundation
“This grant awarded by the Mandel Foundation marks significant investments in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood and comes on the heels of our recent grant to help build Irishtown Bend Park in Ohio City. This grant is centered around our belief that our citizens and neighborhoods are our greatest assets; thus, we want to help in strengthening these communities for all who live, work and play in them. These lakefront projects will not only boost the Foundation’s previous investments, but will spark new investments and new interest in these wonderful lakefront neighborhoods.”
Cleveland Metroparks Chief Development Officer Natalie Ronayne
“We are honored to receive this monumental gift from the Mandel Foundation that will expand east side neighborhood access and connections to lakefront trails and greenspace. By investing in the two key corridors and gateways along the lakefront and E. 72nd Street, initial benefits of the CHEERS vision and collaborative lakefront planning will be realized in the near term for residents of the surrounding neighborhoods and across Northeast Ohio.”
