Jackson Street Pier praised

SANDUSKY — Sandusky's predominant public waterfront space recently won a prestigious award. Jackson Street Pier took home a "Great Places in Ohio" distinction from APA Ohio. The statewide nonprofit consists of citizen and professional planners who dedicate themselves to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning in hopes of creating vibrant communities. Regarding the award, it recognizes outstanding public places across Ohio. The nonprofit noted Jackson Street Pier's "dramatic transformation from a parking lot into a dynamic waterfront public space and its robust programming offerings in its decision to give the pier the award," according to a city statement. "We're so happy to see all the support from our residents about this award and are grateful to all of our residents who made this possible, because, without all of your support, we would not have been able to accomplish this," the statement read. "The pier is meant to be a place for all Sanduskians, and we've seen that time and time again how our residents embrace it and make it their own." Providing insight on the pier Unveiled in 2020, the $8.1 million publicly funded new-look Jackson Street Pier project features several amenities and concepts agreed upon by many different parties. The final product resulted from a yearlong planning process, which solicited input and feedback from city officials, planners, community members, visitors, ferry operators and other stakeholders. For instance, some residents wanted to keep all the parking spots that were there, about 240. Others wanted none. The final product shows a compromise. When analyzing the Jackson Street Pier's evolution, from what it was to today, it: • Maintains all existing uses for fishermen, boaters and people who walk or drive there to park for relaxation purposes • Keeps parking along the water's edge and northernmost end • Adds a multipurpose enclosed building people can rent out for events, such as weddings, graduation parties or other special occasions • Upgrades handicap accessibility for both motorists and pedestrians, who can more easily enter a boardwalk area • Increases seating opportunities with more benches in addition to new relaxation areas like trellis swings, picnic tables and the sun stairs • Creates a boardwalk spanning the entire pier's perimeter, which, in its past configuration, unexpectedly ended at the northwest corner • Enhances the Homeland Security areas necessary to preserve ferry service to Pelee Island • Addresses deferred maintenance and beautification issues while improving sightlines along the waterfront • Improves the ticketing, drop-off and waiting environment for traffic boarding or departing the Goodtime I, Jet Express and Pelee Islander Throughout 2022, tens of thousands of people landed on the pier for a variety of events all revolving around community: concerts, movie nights, weddings, reunions, fashion shows, holiday fireworks, children performances and more. They also stopped down to view sunsets, board boats, attend festivals, go fishing, partake in ice skating, meet up with friends, take walks, eat lunch, watch the waves crash and countless other activities. When the pier opened, several people, including Sandusky city commissioner Dennis Murray Jr., spoke favorably of this space — and what followed in the two years since has exceeded his lofty expectations in terms of people appreciating this space. Jackson Street Pier "is a triumph of vision, planning, determination and execution," Murray said.