A look into The Landing

SANDUSKY — Officials revealed some new details regarding The Landing, a proposed waterfront nature space behind two sports centers on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6), in Sandusky. Michelle Johnson, the director of Cleveland-based Environmental Design Group, a firm contracted by the city for this work, previewed what's to come during Monday's city commission meeting. Johnson stressed her company and city officials "have been very proactive working with the permitting agencies since the beginning of the design process." An artist rendering shows a portion of The Landing in Sandusky. Officials want to begin construction activities at the nature site, behind two sports complexes off Cleveland Road (U.S. 6), by 2021. Provided image/CITY OF SANDUSKY and ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN GROUP The year "2020 will be a big year for The Landing," Johnson said. "We are currently working (to complete) the construction document set and getting all of our environmental permits submitted to various permitting agencies" in hopes of expediting work. "Per the schedule, we are on track." Johnson expects the first batch of construction work could go out for bid sometime in 2021. Then, once ground breaks, The Landing's first phase could open by 2023. Catalytic projects Creating The Landing and expanding the Sandusky Bay Pathway represents two transformational long-range initiatives local government officials and city-hired designers have undertaken in recent times. But how do they tie in together? By 2029, officials ideally want to extend the pathway into an uninterrupted 13-mile-long waterfront route, connecting Sandusky's west side to its east end, linking parks, piers, restaurants, hotels, businesses, natural spaces and more. Today it's an incomplete 2-mile-long network. It's also the city's only recognized bicycle trail. Planners want to break up the pathway project into chunks, developing and then debuting one or two areas before moving on to a different section. It might take up to 15 years before the pathway is 100 percent finished. An artist rendering shows a portion of The Landing in Sandusky. Officials want to begin construction activities at the nature site, behind two sports complexes off Cleveland Road (U.S. 6), by 2021. Provided image/CITY OF SANDUSKY and ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN GROUP The evolved multimodal trail would lead to and run through The Landing, also known as Landing Park. It would weave around nature spaces and waterfront areas. Together they make up a $24 million investment. This past summer, officials applied for a federal grant, which would've covered about $15 million of this cost, but their application got denied. Officials vowed to seek additional grant opportunities, donations and outside contributions to offset any local expenses. They are, however, spending a small portion of local funds, through admissions taxes, to fund these initiatives. The layout of The Landing The Landing not only incorporates elements of its natural environment but also introduces and invites locals to check out Sandusky's relatively uncharted waterfront region. Preliminary drawings show a nature trail encircling a 27-acre section off Cleveland Road, behind, or just north of, Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center and the Cedar Point Sports Center. A 2-mile-long multipurpose public passageway, also part of the Sandusky Bay Pathway, primarily runs along Sandusky Bay's back bay, an area rarely accessed by anyone because, for decades, it was owned by a privately run company: Griffing Sandusky Airport. Though planners intertwined an aviation aspect into the project: A runway acts as a driveway, guiding people to The Landing's northernmost and centerpiece landmark: The Point. By many different modes — be it driving, walking, running, skateboarding or bicycling — people can head to The Point's marquee attraction, a lighthouse, doubling as an observation tower. The several-story-tall structure should offer majestic views of Lake Erie. Planners also said it'll be an ideal spot for people to gaze at birds migrating over or resting near Lake Erie. An artist rendering shows a portion of The Landing in Sandusky. Officials want to begin construction activities at the nature site, behind two sports complexes off Cleveland Road (U.S. 6), by 2021. Provided image/CITY OF SANDUSKY and ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN GROUP Those in the lighthouse can also locate people hopping in kayaks and canoes or jumping atop a paddleboard at one of many boat launching sites. The back bay prohibits motorized boating traffic but encourages other modes of travel. If people don't want to explore or exercise, and prefer socializing, they can grab a drink or a bite at a small, privately operated plaza, leasing space from this public entity. The Point branches off into east and west sections, all of which weave through natural habitats — such as phragmites, or tall grasses stretching upward of 9 feet tall — between Castaway Bay and Eagle Point MetroPark: • To the west, people can traverse through a twisting trail before reaching Castaway Crossing, a pedestrian-only bridge, clearing about 14 feet from current water levels and connecting two separated areas of land. Officials envision Castaway Crossing connecting with the Sandusky Bay Pathway on Cedar Point Drive. • To the east, people can travel on an elevated boardwalk and overlook areas, which provide unobstructed, and unrivaled, perspectives of Lake Erie. While open to tourists, The Landing largely caters to those who call Sandusky, Erie County and the Firelands region home. "Throughout this process, we kept them in mind," Johnson said. "People felt like this needed to be a homegrown project. We tried to come up with all sorts of destinations for all sorts of users and ability levels to create a unique experience and destination for the city of Sandusky." Officials remain optimistic about The Landing's potential. "This project is a unique partnership and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect our community to Sandusky Bay via a world-class bike trail and destination green space," city manager Eric Wobser said. "Landing Park will become an iconic Sandusky destination, joining Cedar Point and the Lake Erie islands. Most importantly, this is a public resource that will benefit local residents and tourists alike." An artist rendering shows a portion of The Landing in Sandusky. Officials want to begin construction activities at the nature site, behind two sports complexes off Cleveland Road (U.S. 6), by 2021. Provided image/CITY OF SANDUSKY and ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN GROUP