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| In the heart of one of Ohio's largest cities, Cleveland Lakefront State Park provides natural relief to the metropolitan skyline • Sand beaches, tree-lined picnic areas and panoramic views of the lake are found within the 419-acre park along the Lake Erie shoreline |
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Edgewater Park 
- This park is divided into upper and lower areas connected by a paved bicycle path and fitness course.
- Upper Edgewater features a renovated pavilion which can be reserved online or by calling 866-644-6727
- Restroom facilities
- Playground equipment
- Within walking distance of the 900-foot swimming beach
- A statue of Conrad Mizar, the oldest monument in Cleveland, is found near the pavilion
- The circle lot adjacent to Upper Edgewater is known for being one of the best viewing sites of downtown Cleveland
- Lower Edgewater
- Swimming beach with 2 picnic shelters (available on a first come, first served basis), restrooms and a concession facility
- Nearby fishing pier provides access for anglers, and a concession where food and bait can be purchased
- Boat launch ramps offer one of the few boating access points on the west side of the city
East 55th Marina
- 350 seasonal docks for rent with water and electrical hookups
- 8 transient docks
- Marina concession facility that serves not only marina members, but also fishermen who take advantage of the 1,200-foot fishing platform
- For more information, call 216-431-5566
 Gordon Park
- 6 boat launch ramps with a large parking area for vehicles and trailers
- Park office is located here
- Exploration Station nature center offers nature programs year-round • Click here for details
- Picnic area
- Anglers are attracted to the onshore fishing platforms
- Adjacent Cleveland Electric & Illuminating Company's warm water discharge improves winter catches of steelhead and salmon
Euclid Beach
- 650-foot swimming beach with shaded picnic areas and a scenic observation pier
- The picnic area above the beach has a pavilion that can accommodate groups up to 50 people, which can be reserved for a fee online or by calling 866-644-6727
Villa Angela
- Scenic boardwalk
- Fitness trail
- Bathhouse
- Wheelchair accessible fishing pier
- 900-foot swimming beach
- Variety of plant species and scenic overlooks
- A bridge connects this area to the adjacent Wildwood area
Wildwood
- 6-ramp boat launch provides access to the central basin of Lake Erie
- Marina
- canteen and concession area
- gasoline
- boating essentials and bait
- 12 seasonal docks
- 4 transient/overnight docks, 20' length
- fishing and SCUBA diving charters
- fishing licenses
- fish cleaning service
- diving air tank refill
- Picnic area with a picnic shelter that can accommodate groups up to 50 people and can be reserved for a fee online or by calling 866-644-6727
- Beach concession
- Access to the summer walleye fishery in the central basin of Lake Erie, Wildwood has two lengthy rock breakwalls to accommodate shore anglers
- Access to Euclid Creek which attracts anglers in the spring for its coho salmon
- Small beach suitable for launching personal watercraft
- Walk/bike path
- Playground
- Fishing access along the rocky breakwalls and to Euclid Creek
More To Do
- The 9-mile Cleveland Lakefront Bike Trail traces the Lake Erie shoreline along Cleveland's Lakeshore Boulevard from E. 9th Street to E. 185th Street • This route provides access to the E. 55th Street Marina, Gordon Park, Euclid Beach, Villa Angela and Wildwood Park areas
- A 1/4 mile bike path links E. 55th Street Marina and Gordon Park
- A 1-mile bike path connects Euclid Beach and Villa Angela, with a half-mile spur to Wildwood
Area Attractions
- Headlands Beach State Park is located east of Cleveland near Fairport Harbor • Headlands Beach has the longest natural sand beach in the state and offers picnicking and swimming opportunities
- The adjacent state nature preserve, Headlands Dunes, is one of the last and finest examples of Lake Erie beach and dune communities remaining in Ohio, with rare plant species normally found only on the Atlantic coast.
- Just south of Headlands Beach is Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, a national natural landmark. The 644-acre marsh-swamp forest contains unique plant and animal life.
- East of Cleveland off S.R. 174 is Hach-Otis State Nature Preserve, a remnant mature forest in the Chagrin River Valley.
- Punderson State Park in Geauga County is a resort park offering a lodge, cottages, campground, golf course and winter recreation area
- For more information about area attractions, visit:
Nature of the Area
Ohio has been truly blessed by the presence of Lake Erie on its northern border • Lake Erie is the 12th largest bodies of freshwater in the world • When considering nearly 99% of the world's water supply is either frozen or saltwater, the Great Lakes are a tremendous resource most Ohioans take for granted
Lake Erie is shallow allowing for violent storms with high waves • The lake is divided into three basins: west, central and eastern • The west is most shallow at 25 to 30 feet average depth • The central basin, wherein lies Cleveland Lakefront State Park, has an average depth of 61 feet • The eastern basin is deepest at 210 feet average depth
Lake Erie, because of its higher nutrient levels and warmer temperatures, produces greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other great lake • The annual Erie fish catch nearly equals the combined catches of all the other great lakes • Dominant species are perch, smallmouth and white bass, channel catfish, walleye and freshwater drum
Sand beaches are scattered along the main shoreline • Coastal plants such as sand cherry, beach grass, beach pea and others are rare in this urban environment • Common trees include cottonwood, willow and ash with vines of wild grape, Virginia creeper, bittersweet and poison ivy among the branches
History of the Area
The first pioneer settlers arrived in the area in 1796 • In 1827, the Ohio Canal was completed as far south as Akron, and by 1832, it was in operation from Lake Erie to the Ohio River resulting in great prosperity and a rapid population increase for Cleveland • Cleveland was a noted center of the stagecoach lines between the East, West and South until the railroads came about 1850 replacing the stagelines • When the Cleveland and Mahoning Valley Railroad was completed, it extended into that valley's great coal fields laying the foundation for Cleveland as an industrial giant • With the availability of coal and iron ore, great iron furnaces and rolling mills soon lined the banks of the Cuyahoga River
As early as 1865, lands were set aside in Cleveland to be developed as recreation areas • In 1977, the city of Cleveland leased its four lakefront parks to the state of Ohio • The four parks became Cleveland Lakefront State Park in 1978 • In 1982, the Euclid Beach area was added to the state park property • The Villa Angela area consisted of two separate land purchases • The first 30 acres was bought by the city of Cleveland and turned over to the state in 1984 • ODNR and the Cleveland Public Library purchased the remaining 13 acres in May 1991 • While each area appears to be a separate park, they are administered through a single park office located at Gordon Park
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