As a boy, I spent many nights with my father fishing off the break wall at Edgewater. These experiences – the sights, the smells, the sounds, the feel of the water’s spray as the waves crashed into the stones before us, the sift glow of the Coleman lantern and the smell of the butane, the camaraderie with the other fishermen… these are foundational memories that help keep me in touch with my father even though he passed away many years ago.
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We're listening.
We’ve heard many stories from Clevelanders, reflecting deep connections with Lake Erie, and cherished memories of friends and family.
These stories paint a more detailed picture than traditional histories can. They show the nuance and humanity of our interactions with the lake, and they speak to the heart of our vision for a renewed lakefront.
If you like, please share your own lakefront story. We know it will be a valuable addition to our collection.
Share Your Story
Share your memories of Cleveland’s lakefront. We review submissions before they show up on this page.
Every visit from my hometown of Columbus to Cleveland with my family included a stop at Captain Frank’s Restaurant on the E 9th Street Pier. We would also visit for the annual family reunion on Labor Day weekend when we could also watch the Air Show.
I have gone to the lake for my entire adult life. Lake Erie is my sanctuary, my spot for reflection and relaxing. When out of town guests are visiting, a trip to beautiful Lake Erie is a must.
Ice cream stand behind Captain Frank’s. Watching airplanes take off from E. 9th Street Pier. Walking my dog at Donald Gray Gardens north of old muni stadium. Catching a train to Chicago or Washington at the Amtrak station. Seeing an Indians opener with 80,000 fans.
May seem silly, but my dog absolutely hated water. I think that something traumatic happened to him having to do with water. I went to Lake Erie with a friend and our dogs. Lake Erie was the first time that not only went into the water of his own accord, but actually frolicked in it. There were other dogs who were playing and that helped him to forego his great fear. So amazing for him, but also so cool to see what the power of community can do for us!
My family used to live in Cleveland in the 1970’s, before I was born. I moved here because of school (Case Western Reserve U) but also because of the great stories they would tell about the lake and fishing and hiking. I recently learned how to fish and love it! Following the family tradition.
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“We release family's ashes into the lake.”
“I can't imagine living where there isn't water! So many memories especially at Lakewood Park and just enjoying the water on my drive to work! Just looking at water seems to calm me!”
“I was born and raised in western suburb of CLE, and I grew up going to the beaches on west side and east side, as well as piers and other locations. My dad worked downtown right at E 9th and Lakeside- and had a lot of stories as well. I never really thought too much about the lake until I moved away for college and then a job in Columbus - it felt wrong to not be by the lake. I have been a city of Cle resident now for 16 years and take my kids to the beach and pier.”
“Anywhere on the lake front, the flats, etc is such a good time! Just look at places like Edgewater, Lakewood Park, and other parks along the lakeshore. People show up when it's nice! Places are packed. I don't live close to the lake anymore & miss it all of the time.”
“writing by the beach”
“Back in covid lockdown, I used to visit & hangout at the lakefront park – it was so peaceful and grounding.”
“I endured it in the 60s. It's come a long way back baby!”
“fishing and fishing peers, the industry along with cleaner water helped bring the fun and jobs back to north coast”
“I love Lake Erie. Great place to have family time.”
“I love to fish.”
“My mom has a dock at 55th and enjoys paddling with inflatable kayaks. I grew up in Lakewood and loved Lakewood Park, Edgewater, Perkins Piers, the Gold Coast, Huntington in Bay. Used to layout and read books on the large rocks. Loved water skiing. The ability to just relax and be while enjoying nature. Skipping stones. People do like looking for sea glass.”
“Love making out our small outboard boat, except when the water was rough! As kid - Euclid Beach was the place to be.”
“As a kid, Edgewater for swimming. Fishing at 72nd St. pier with my husband. Picnics, swimming, nature walks at Wildpark Euclid Beach.”
“I am a native Clevelander who enjoys the beautiful shores and blue waters of our Lake Erie. Some of my fondest memories include hanging out on the beach, sailing across its choppy waters, and bringing visitors from out of town to see our lake.”
“I grew up (MANY years ago) on and around Lake Erie... The lake Erie Islands being the most significant to me. History is tied to the lake and ships like the Niagara and Porcupine and others - this could be part of Cleveland and Ohio ... not just Erie Pa.”
“I remember fishing on the pier with my granddad.”
“Our favorite family moments with our kids (6,4,2) happen around Cleveland's lakefront. We love grilling and having picnics at Edgewater and Wendy Park, walking along the beach and waterfront and spending time on the Solstice Steps at Lakewood Park or at the beach at Huntington. I cannot wait for the downtown and tourist population to have this opportunity right in the heart of the city.”
“Seeing the Hulett unloaders in action from a few yards away, and later paddling directly under their still masses shortly before they were dismantled. I've heard there is one languishing in pieces in Lorain. Would make a fun kids' ride for a final coup de grace! Bonne chance!”
“I grew up on the baches of Euclid. There is not much Beach left, it's all cliffs. The waterfront is where I relax.”
“Crewing on a sailboat out of EYC.”
“While teaching I brought my residentially-housed students to the Rock Hall Educational Programs, they felt magical walking behind the Rock Hall along Lake Erie.”
“I enjoy boat shows and festivals like Tall Ships. I am passionate about the lake.”
“Going to the old stadium as a kid, watching the Browns in frigid temps, whipping winds, and blinding snowstorms€¦and loving every second of it.”
“I worked at the Port Authority Maritime when ships docked at the port. It was a great experience... about long shore men. Trade ships Flags/origin lots Irish”
“I remember lake day and fishing. Festivals at the beach.”
“Great memories of swimming in the lake in the summer and watching the fireworks and music events in the parks looking out to the lake.”
“The lakefront has always been a place for Cambodian Refugees to gather as a community.”
“Swimming, picnics with family”
“I go to the lake with my dogs. They like to swim there.”
“I grew up going to the Lake, both in Lakewood / West Cleveland & the Sandusky, Port Clinton, Catawba areas. It will be great to have a beach in downtown Cleveland!”
“I take trips to the lakefront when I need to reset my mind and my day.”
“Preserve, honor and enhance the beauty of our lake, showcase the gem of nature of which we are blessed..”
“I had only been birding for a few years when, about 15 years ago, I stopped at the E. 55th marina and surveyed the area inside the break wall. I was surprised to see a bird I immediately recognized from my bird book standing tall, still and silent along the edge of the water. It was an American Bittern. What I didn't realize is how uncommon this bird was to see. I have still never seen another one since then. The Erie shoreline is a fantastic stopover place for migrating birds and I am pleased with the wetlands area in the plans, a place I can imagine seeing a bittern again.”
“used to take my kids to lake when little. everyone should be able to”
“Playing vball downtown.”
“Many happy Sunday mornings spent sailing on Lake Erie”
“When I was a child my father always took me fishing there, I would like the lakefront to be safe and have more barriers.”
“I loved going swimming in the lake as a kid.”
“Going to Euclid Beach amusement park and beach as a child.”
“I love the lake. I go to all the concerts.”
“plenty of memories here from sports and concerts to the Mather, cod, burke, cap'n franks, flying at burke & of course the rock hall (never been to sci center though).”
“I went on a speedboat and almost fell off it was so fast. I was with friends.”
“Going to the lake to BBQ and listen to music”
“My father would fish (orange pale, bucket, fishing rods, tackle box, fishing hat).”
“Had a great time at the lakefront with my family walking around.”
“Just the natural lake! Picking up shells in the sand while gentle waves wash over your feet! Beautiful sunsets!”
“Dead fish on the beach when I was growing up - it kept me away for a long time. Give me a reason to go back. But I'm not going in the water. I like the pool idea.”
“I was one on the lake front singing 'American Woman'”
“Riding my bike”
“I love Edgewater, so having another park and recreational area that Clevelanders can enjoy would be vital to the city.”
“Tailgate at browns games”
“Fishing at Lake Erie at E. 55th Marina”
“I loved going to Huntington Beach growing up and collecting sea glass.”
“I go to rrhof fairly often. Very fond memories there and love the architect”
“We love watching the sunset at that small park on the lake in Rocky River.”
“Going to Captain Franks”
“The many hours spent at Edgewater beach as a young adult listening to WMMS tell you to "turn so you don't burn!"”
“My dog and I walk regularly at the mini park near East 55th Marina. I bike through there and along North Marginal Rd. to MLK. We need safer, well-lit routes on the N-5 roads under bridges. I have seen mink among the rocks at the mini park.”
“A little bit of everything. I like the cold and nature.”
“I live on the lake. I didn't realize how important Lake Erie was until I moved to a house next to it. We drink from it. It's clean now. So everyone should get to use it.”
“Captain Frank's”
“Always spent time at the lakefront. Missed it when I moved away.”
“Captain Frank's Restaurant the ship, history.”
“Euclid Beach Amusement Park”
“Going down to Edgewater with my mom.”
“My experiences with Lake Erie revolve around looking at it and not really in it or enjoying it. In contrast, my Great Lakes highlights involve swimming, paddle boarding, or floating in the SW Michigan area of Lake Michigan and the same water activities plus boardwalk/parks/restaurant cod the Beaches area of Toronto (who have transformed cleanliness of water over last couple decades).”
“Fishing with ma. Great times.”
“Went to the rip cookoff in 92 with my old college sweetie. Had not seen her in 21 yrs. Got married 7 months later. Still married (31 yrs)”
“Nice experiences including Rock Hall, GLSC and Voinovich Park. However, there was always a disconnect with the rest of downtown and instead of continuing the lakefront experience with a stroll into the core of downtown, we would get back in the car and go elsewhere.”
“I took a Great Lakes Roadtrip and was thrilled to be able to step foot in Lake Erie. Sorry I missed what is to come but I can visit again and experience this amazing new lakefront park.”
“A stories comes to mind… My great aunt moved to Cleveland to pursue a better life. She was a bootlegger and would get liquor supply shipment from Whiskey Island.”
“I love taking my kids to the beach since my oldest was 2. Like to be able to do that via public transit without having to cross any major highways”
“So many memories of going to Euclid Beach Amusement Park with my grandmother, who went on all the rides along with me and my brother!”
“Sometimes I ride my electric skateboard starting on the east side of the city near the lakefront nature preserve and travel west during dusk in an effort to “chase the sun” and take in as much as I can of the gorgeous sunsets on display along our lakefront and city skyline. However, the stretch nearest the city can be difficult to traverse and distracts me from my mission! I dream of one day riding this stretch feeling one with the lakefront.”
“I look at places like Toronto with their access to Lake Ontario and think that could be us. With how much me and my family love going to Edgewater and Huntington Beach, I can't emphasize enough how much better access to Lake Erie would be for Cleveland. Our favorite thing to do with out of towners is to take them to see the lake. Every single time they comment on how they can't believe it's in Cleveland. People don't realize what a gem we have and it's because we as Clevelanders don't even have proper access to experience it. Cleveland could become a real destination, a place people want to be, and not just the punchline to a bad joke about our river catching on fire once. The lakefront deserves to be utilized to its fullest and this plan shows the obvious potential it has to be a place for countless memories to be made.”
“I spend a lot of time by the north coast. I spent 9th grade there at the Great Lake Science Center at MCZ Stem High School and also took part and creating some of the speakers downtown around the playhouse square area.”
“My Dad and Uncle are big boaters and I grew up spending a lot of time on their boats. Great Lakes boating is its own wonderful thing as we heard from the first person to ask a question to the panel today and is the Captain of a wonderful group of Northeast Ohio boaters. Boating on the Lake is special.”
“The lakefront is a relaxing place I brought my children to the beach decades ago and Edgewater was the place to be.”
“I've watched the fireworks from the deck of the Mather. I've seen Tom T. Hall perform a concert on the deck of the Mather. Those experiences can't be duplicated. I've ridden on a Tall Ship on the Lake - breathtaking.”
“I had to do abolition research, there are great, heroic stories of people fleeing slavery from areas we now call University Circle, down Doan brook to the lake.”
“Collecting shells at Lakeside Ohio's beaches.”
“Edgewater Park on weekends to play volleyball”
“I just enjoy being by the lake when I can. I like the Edgewater Beach upstairs pavilion a lot.”
“Many a beach days as a family at Edgewater beach”
“I would go to the east 55th pier with my dad to feed the sea gulls. A place that people in Cleveland can call home where memories are created”
“My family had a farm that boarded lake Erie in Vermilion I vividly remember the fun of swimming, bond fires and hanging out with family - - I was just a young kid but remember the thrill of being in and around the lake.”
“It's beautiful and always makes me feel like I'm on a vacation”
“I enjoy sitting at the lakefront and reflecting on life and relaxing my mind. I would like to see more flowers, benches, water fountains, playgrounds, historical statues, food places to eat.”
“All of it as a safe place to be.”
“Not much. Just love living near our beautiful lake”
“I was bringing a group of Asian American & Pacific Islander leaders from across the US on a tour of Cleveland, and when I asked if they wanted to see the lake they said yes! We got out at Edgewater Lake and the pacific islander (native/indigenous) put her feet in the water, she had a full body sigh and smiled and said “I feel connected now.” (To CLE)”
“I saw the Rolling Stones at old Municipal Stadium.”
“When I lived on W 73rd street, each morning I would be greeted by the lake on my drive while headed to the Shoreway. It just had a calming effect on everything for me.”
“We need a place to walk around that's pretty and is a destination”
“The Browns stadium is my go to running route downtown. And the hills on W. 3rd & E, 9th bridge are REAL.”
“The Lake represents freedom, tranquility and beckons exploration and discovery. It also requires respect and understanding of its wonderment.”
“going to the islands.”
“Fishing with family in the summer.”
“Running and biking along the shoreline”