Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve
In 2006 the Garden Club of Cleveland formed a Centennial Committee to research a project to celebrate the GCC’s 100th anniversary in 2012. The project had to fit our mission, “ to restore, improve, and protect the environment through educational programs and actions in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.” Several projects were considered in Cleveland. The Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (originally called Dike 14) was chosen. Dike 14, an eighty-eight acre site owned by The Port of Cleveland was created with twenty years of dredge material from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. The site was closed in 1999 but in the following years nature took over. Birds, butterflies and wildlife found their way to the site. The Environmental Education Collaborative, a ten-member committee of various environmental and educational groups was formed in hopes of opening the site to school and environmental groups. A GCC member sat on the Collaborative Board.
Public meetings were held with the Port, State, County and city officials to push for protection of the site as a nature preserve. In 2004, the City of Cleveland made the decision to include Dike 14 in the official Cleveland Lakefront Plan and The Port of Cleveland opened the Nature Preserve to the public in 2012.
The Garden Club of Cleveland funded the design and construction of the Overlook Plaza. The Plaza was designed by the artist Brinsley Tyrell. The iron railing reflects the history of the site, the dredging barge, the wildlife and the boats that are seen from the point. It was officially dedicated in 2013.
In 2015, The Port of Cleveland developed a Land Management Plan that included the start of remediation of invasive species and planting of native trees. Davey Tree was retained for some of this work. The GCC was awarded a Partners for Plants (P4P) grant from the GCA for work on the Preserve in 2019 and in 2021. We continue our relationship with the Port and hope to continue to improve the Preserve with these funds by planting natives and clearing invasives, a “trash to treasure” story.
Public meetings were held with the Port, State, County and city officials to push for protection of the site as a nature preserve. In 2004, the City of Cleveland made the decision to include Dike 14 in the official Cleveland Lakefront Plan and The Port of Cleveland opened the Nature Preserve to the public in 2012.
The Garden Club of Cleveland funded the design and construction of the Overlook Plaza. The Plaza was designed by the artist Brinsley Tyrell. The iron railing reflects the history of the site, the dredging barge, the wildlife and the boats that are seen from the point. It was officially dedicated in 2013.
In 2015, The Port of Cleveland developed a Land Management Plan that included the start of remediation of invasive species and planting of native trees. Davey Tree was retained for some of this work. The GCC was awarded a Partners for Plants (P4P) grant from the GCA for work on the Preserve in 2019 and in 2021. We continue our relationship with the Port and hope to continue to improve the Preserve with these funds by planting natives and clearing invasives, a “trash to treasure” story.
Click HERE to see our Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve P4P spotlight on the GCA website!
The Garden Club of Cleveland is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a member of the Garden Club of America.
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