CLEVELAND — Officials from the city of Cleveland, including Mayor Justin Bibb, offered a vision of a proposed land bridge to connect the downtown Mall to the shores of Lake Erie, during its North Coast Master Plan exploratory meeting at the Great Lakes Science Center on Thursday.
The bridge design shown during the presentation looked somewhat different than previous illustrations. Lisa Switkin, a landscape architect with James Corner Field Operations, described the arc-shaped bridge as a place where pedestrians can have a "dynamic experience."
Along the way, pedestrians may be able to utilize a "multi-model transportation hub" to Amtrak and the RTA, take the connector to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Science Center, head left to Cleveland Browns Stadium for a football game or concert event, then finish out with a gentle slope down to the lake.
Straight down from the bridge is what Switkin referred to as a "central community plaza," including an amphitheater similar to the Solstice Steps at Lakewood Park. It leads a waterplay area that includes a beach, kayak launch, wetlands, and series of porches.
To the east, planners envision a family-friendly area that features a large nature playground, sport courts, and cookout area. On the west side, there would be space for residential and commercial development, along with a garden walk area and fishing pier.
PHOTOS | Designs for Cleveland's North Coast Master Plan revealed
City officials say that Thursday's discussion is just the beginning of a series of events that will ask for community involvement. The North Coast Lakefront project team will be at grocery stores, neighborhood festivals and parks to gather input from residents across the city.
"Buckle up. Stay tuned. We have a lot more work to do. This is just the first part of this long journey. But know that your mayor is going to fight for an equitable lakefront that represents the best of our city," Bibb told the gathering.
More information on the North Coast Master Plan can be found HERE.
You can watch Thursday's discussion about the North Coast Master Plan in the player below.
The idea of a land bridge in downtown Cleveland started to pick up steam in 2021, when the Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Browns, first unveiled plans for a park-like land bridge over State Route 2 and the railroad tracks. The proposal called for a combination of private and public money to help pay for its funding, which was estimated to cost $230 million.
The city of Cleveland recently allocated $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for design and a feasibility study of what it calls the "North Coast Connector." Earlier this summer, it appeared that the state of Ohio was set to make a major investment into the proposed land bridge when the Ohio House allocated $62 million for the project in its 2024-25 budget proposal. However, the Ohio Senate countered with a different budget plan which eliminated the land bridge allocation.
"The lakefront is just an important process. Outside of us (the Browns), the lakefront in Cleveland has to be developed. You need a vibrant city, that’s a really important part of who Cleveland should be. I think the connection bridge needs to happen, regardless of what happens with our stadium. That has to happen," said Browns co-owner Dee Haslam earlier this week.
The Haslams are pushing for a remodeled Cleveland Browns Stadium as part of a new-look lakefront in the downtown area. Negotiations between the city and the Browns are ongoing.
"We’re really working hard with the city, the county, and the state to work out a plan to continue to develop and remodel our stadium on the lakefront," Dee Haslam added. "We’re working through it. It’s really complex. It’s really hard. A lot of details."
The Browns owners did not rule out the possibility of finding a location elsewhere for a new stadium. However, one thing that was made clear on Monday was the Browns are not leaving the area. "These things take time," Jimmy Haslam said. "The only thing Dee (Haslam) and I would say for sure is we're not leaving Northeastern Ohio. That's for sure. Our preference is to be on the lakefront, but we've gotta see how things play out."
The team's lease with the city for Cleveland Browns Stadium is set to expire in 2028.
