CLEVELAND — As the planning process continues for the North Coast Connector, a land bridge that would connect the Mall in downtown Cleveland to the shores of Lake Erie, the project may be getting some help from state lawmakers.
On Wednesday, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 2 (HB2), appropriating $2 billion for economic development and community investments throughout the state. HB2 features $350 million in funding from the One Time Strategic Community Investments Fund (OTSCIF) that was set aside in the state's operating budget.
The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate.
According to Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake), Cuyahoga County would receive just over $42 million of those funds, with $20 million allocated for the North Coast Connector.
The land bridge is the centerpiece of the proposed North Coast Master Plan, which is still being finalized.
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.
Last year, the city of Cleveland allocated $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for design and a feasibility study of the "North Coast Connector." Also in 2023, 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.
Planners provided a vision of what the land bridge could look like last October, during its "60% presentation" of the North Coast Master Plan.
According to Lisa Switkin, senior principal at New York-based James Corner Field Operations, pedestrians can have a "dynamic experience" on the land bridge. On their walk from the Mall to Lake Erie, they 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 to 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.
Here are some of the other entities which would receive funds from the OTSCIF:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Expansion and Renovation Project - $5,000,000
- Flats River Development - $3,500,000
- West Side Market in Cleveland - $1,400,000
- Irishtown Bend Park - $1,000,000
- Brook Park Community Center Restoration - $1,000,000
- YMCA of Greater Cleveland – New Facility Construction - $1,000,000
- Cleveland Women’s Soccer Stadium - $1,000,000
- Cahoon Park - $1,000,000