Project to pave lots, pier

SANDUSKY — Get ready for a smoother ride into some of Sandusky's greenspaces as well as a prominent pier. During a recent public meeting, city commissioners approved a $396,700 expense in local funds for a paving project involving public parks. "This project represents an investment in physical improvements to improve residents' quality of life," city assistant engineer Josh Snyder said. Among the areas where work will occur: • Kiwanis Park's east parking lot • Shoreline Park's entire parking lot • The Maritime Museum of Sandusky's parking lot along with the Sandusky Bay Pavilion site • The Washington Street Pier; "The entire pier will be paved over. The asphalt overlay should serve the 100-year-old pier well, as concrete that old is very labor-intensive to maintain," Snyder said. • The entrance to Sandusky's new skate park; "The skate park entrance was last paved as part of the first phase of the Sandusky Bay Pathway in 2002," Snyder said. The high-traffic entrance area is in the worst condition and needs (to be) surfaced as maintenance." Snyder expects work to start soon and finish by springtime. "Public parking lots are the welcome mats to our city parks," Snyder said. "Being in good drivable condition is important to make the park areas and facilities welcoming. This is in addition to reducing staff maintenance — crack-sealing/pothole filling/patching — time spent in our parking lots and allowing them to spend more time on the roads." Paving a priority Sandusky officials continue to commit public funds toward fixing drives and approaches leading into public spaces. Here's a look at some recent projects fulfilling this ongoing initiative: • 2020: Jackson Street Pier • 2021: Jaycee Park • 2022: Along East Market Street, Wayne Street behind Subway • 2023: East Water Street behind Daly's Pub • 2024: Sandusky Justice Center, which includes the police station, off Meigs Street; Sandusky Service Center off West Monroe Street, the Sandusky Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Sandusky Greenhouse, Mills Creek Golf Course along with the fire stations on Fifth Street and Venice Road • 2025: MacArthur/Churchwell parks areas