The calendar says March, but Friday felt more like May and News 5 got an exclusive first look at some major renovations happening at Edgewater Park.
Construction workers have been working through the winter on more than $4 million dollars in renovations, including what’s being called a beach house.
Cleveland Metroparks Chief Planning and Design Director Sean McDermott gave News 5 a tour of the two-story structure, which replaces the old concession stands and bathrooms that dated back to 1986.
“Rest rooms, concession stands, views of the sunset, views of downtown, connections to the community,” McDermott said. "We’ve provided all that here in one very unique structure.”
Plans also call for a beach side bar, a new pavilion and plaza and even a year-round fire place.
But this is not just about a new place to buy ice cream and drinks. This, along with improvements to the Shore Way, could lead to an economic boost for the west side of the city.
The project is also adding new bike and pedestrian access to the park from nearby neighborhoods. Last year about 1.2 million people visited the park and McDermott expects that number to grow in 2017.
"This is a pretty major project for us,” McDermott said. "We’re very excited about what this means for Edgewater Park and what it means for Cleveland.”
The beach house is set for an early June opening, weather permitting.
