Cleveland Lakefront State Park, Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Lakefront State Park is actually a cluster of lakefront parks that stretch along miles of Cleveland’s Lake Erie shoreline, connected by a bike trail and a series of local roads, state routes and expressways. These parks, combined with other facilities of the ‘Emerald Necklace’, provide interconnected recreational and green spaces to all citizens.

The State Park begins on the west side of Cleveland at Edgewater Park, a large and historically well-frequented swimming and sunbathing beach along State Route 2 and Edgewater Drive at the entrance to Lakewood, with such amenities as restrooms, picnic areas, picnic shelter, playground, bathhouse and concessions. At the eastern end of Edgewater, a boat dock and access for fishing are provided, along with an exercise course.

Moving eastward past downtown and Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center, The Rock and Roll Hall of fame and Museum, Voinovich Park, and Burke Lakefront Airport, the State park resumes at the East 55^th Street Marina, along the northern flank of State Route 2/Interstate 90. The Marina also offers fishing access, a boat dock, restrooms and concessions.

Slightly farther east sits Gordon Park, near the intersection of State Route 2/Interstate 90 and Martin Luther King Boulevard (and its access to Rockefeller Park to the south). Gordon Park is the site of the State Park’s administrative office, and also provides a playground, picnic areas, restrooms, boat dock, boat launch and fishing access. Fishing is particularly good at Gordon Park, as it is situated near the warm water outlets of the nearby Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company generating plant.

At the extreme eastern end of the State Park lie Euclid Beach (site of the former Euclid Beach Park amusement facility), Villa Angela (site of a former Catholic all-girls’ high school of that name, and now site of a public library branch), and Wildwood Park. Stretching from east of East 156th Street to Neff Road along the northern side of Lake Shore Boulevard, these three areas incorporate playgrounds, picnic areas, picnic shelters, bathhouses, swimming, fishing access, boat dock, boat launch, fitness trail and restrooms, as well as extensive nature walk and biking areas.