Park project celebrates long-awaited completion

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION — Residents and visitors gathered on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the official dedication of Vermilion's newly revitalized Main Street Beach & Park, a project more than a decade in the making. Framed by sunshine and a Lake Erie breeze, the event featured heartfelt speeches, patriotic music and recognition of the community effort that turned a vision into a lasting legacy. Hosted by Mayor Jim Forthofer, the ceremony marked the completion of a $4 million revitalization project — a majority of which came through private donations and grants. "This is truly the people's park," Forthofer said during his remarks. "It was funded, designed and built by the people of Vermilion." Largely completed in 2024, officials held off on a ceremony to dedicate this space — in the heart of Vermilion's downtown — until spring 2025. The event included remarks from former Mayor Eileen Bulan, who began the initiative in 2010. She credited early donors Larry and Karen Bettcher and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for helping launch the campaign. "Everyone in the community was willing to help in some way," Bulan said. Andy McDowell of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy recounted the organization's involvement since 2006, calling the park one of its "flagship projects." He praised Vermilion for uniting around lakefront preservation at a time when public access to Lake Erie is shrinking. Erie County commissioner Steve Shoffner echoed that theme, noting that less than 17% of Lake Erie's shoreline remains accessible to the public. "You've hit a home run that will secure this access for generations," Shoffner said. Donor Larry Bettcher shared personal stories of visiting the beach with his grandfather as a child and led fundraising efforts alongside his wife, Karen. "Every single person I asked said 'Yes," Larry said. "And that's what made this park possible." The revitalized park now features: • Handicap-accessible walkways and scenic overlooks • A better entryway and exitway system for traffic; Enough space now exists so cars can more easily get into and out of this area. • A comfort station with restrooms and showers • An observation deck and drop-off plaza • Native plantings, sandstone details and community-donated features, such as colorful Adirondack chairs and picnic tables • Various landscaping and beautification efforts The dedication concluded with the raising of a 60-foot American flagpole — donated by the VFW Holland-Bond Post 7576 — as the Joe Price Brass Ensemble of Lorain County performed the national anthem. As Forthofer reminded the crowd, the project was never about government alone. "If you counted on government to do this, you'd be waiting a long time," he said. Forthofer emphasized Vermilion's volunteer spirit, saying projects like this succeed because "People step up in Vermilion. If they see something worthwhile doing, they just do it." Making sense of the dollars and cents The project's total cost equaled about $4 million. Essentially, grants and donations covered $3.5 million of this overall cost. Regarding the balance of $500,000, specifically for the comfort station, city funds covered this leftover amount. "Donors, volunteers, a hard-working parks department and board made it all happen," Forthofer said. "They should be proud of what they have done." Though "it was not without anxiety," said Forthofer, noting the complications coming with demolishing the museum and mansion. "But, with the buildings gone, the public has given back nature's own artwork in this fantastic panorama of our lake and beach," Forthofer said. "My own responsibility, as mayor, is to ensure that the fantastic view is not junked up with signage, little displays, 'art' or anything else that compromises the view of our beach and lakeshore."