Breaking ground at The Landing

SANDUSKY — Many people got their first in-person look at The Landing and loved what they saw. Sandusky officials on Wednesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for this new 27-acre waterfront park and nature space behind Sports Force Parks on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) along Sandusky's back bay. Upon completion, officials labeled the public property "as an accessible shoreline and a key destination along the Sandusky Bay Pathway." During the event, local officials hyped up The Landing, which should feature trails, boardwalks, kayak launches, a pavilion, a playground and bridges through natural wetlands. From today, construction should take nearly two years with a completion time frame set for spring 2027. "This is a transformational project that will redefine our city's relationship with its stunning Lake Erie shoreline," city ex officio mayor Dick Brady said. "The Landing is not just a park: It's a gateway to environmental discovery, recreation and community connection that will benefit residents and visitors alike for decades, even centuries, to come." A decade in the making Planning for The Landing began largely in 2018. Among the major acts advancing this initiative: In 2019, Cedar Point donated nearly 30 acres of waterfront property to the city, which made this park project possible. Environmental Design Group has since served as the project designer. In July 2025, city commissioners awarded the contract to Mosser Construction and Osborn Engineering. The city also contracted with Quality Control Inspection, Inc. for construction administration and inspection tasks. "I just wanted to say that it has been such a blessing for me to work on a project like this for this city," Sandusky's public works director Aaron Klein said. He explained. "I have really enjoyed the creative problem-solving required every step of the way; the responsible stewardship of our most precious resource, the environment; the collaboration with everyone involved; and incorporating the history of the site while staying true to the future vision," Klein said."The Landing will be a place where families and neighbors can create lasting memories together." State Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, and state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, joined the groundbreaking to highlight $3 million in state funding secured for this project. As the eastern gateway to Sandusky's portion of the Sandusky Bay Pathway, "The Landing will link seamlessly with trail segments extending beyond city limits," according to a city statement. "Construction is already underway on a new pathway section stretching from The Landing to Cedar Point Drive, which is scheduled for completion in December," it read. In addition, the state transportation department is advancing the U.S. 6 connectivity corridor project with a new path linking The Landing to Rye Beach Road in Huron, supported by a $25 million federal grant awarded in 2022. "As we shovel the first earth, we celebrate the spirit of innovation and stewardship that continues to define our community," Brady said. Making sense of the dollars and cents The Landing totals about $19.5 million with roughly: • $14.7 million from money generated by Sports Force Parks; Issue 8, which city voters approved in 2014; and a parking tax, largely paid by visitors to Cedar Point • $3 million from a state grant • $1.3 million from various state grants tailored to trail development • $445,000 from businesses located on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) by the sports center This figure represents a slight decrease from a previous estimate of about $24 million. Officials decided to scale down the size due to budgetary reasons. Most notably, money from the city's everyday operating budget — which subsidizes necessary services, like safety services, streets and recreation — won't provide a penny toward this project. Speaking up Beyond Klein and Brady, two other longtime Sandusky officials have overseen the development of this project since Day 1: • "People love nature, and getting to the waterfront, outlined in our strategic plan, is important for many people. This is another part of achieving that goal of giving public waterfront access for our citizens and visitors." — Sandusky city manager John Orzech, who previously served as police chief: • "Carving out a new waterfront park by a 207-year-old city is extraordinary and a capstone on city engineer Aaron Klein's tireless pursuit of the Sandusky Bay Pathway. The Landing park will be enjoyed by Sanduskians for generations to come. Like nearly all of Sandusky's successes over the last decade, this project is another testament to the power of planning, a commission devoted to a common vision, amazing staff and planning and construction partners of integrity and ability. Partnerships with Cedar Point and our state and federal representatives have been essential in funding and realizing what once looked almost fantastical." — Sandusky city commissioner Dennis Murray Jr. A look at The Landing Here's how officials envision what The Landing will look like: • 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. 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 areas in and around this space. • By many different modes — be it driving, walking, running, skateboarding or bicycling — people can reach this area. • When arriving, people can access various canoe/kayak/paddleboard spots. The back bay prohibits motorized boating traffic but encourages other modes of travel. • Plans do exist for commercial operations, selling food and drink, at a privately operated plaza leasing space from this public entity. • Walkable sections would branch 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 13 feet from current water levels and connecting two separated areas of land. • To the east, people can travel on a 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. Piecing the pathway puzzle together By 2029, officials ideally want to create an uninterrupted 13-mile-long waterfront route, connecting Sandusky's west side to its east end, linking parks, piers, restaurants, hotels, businesses, wooded areas and more. Albeit segmented, the Sandusky Bay Pathway totals about 4 miles today, which includes 2.2 uninterrupted miles. The unbroken portion mainly consists of a stretch from AMVETS Post 17 on Putnam Street to the Washington Street Pier and runs through many downtown areas. Once officials receive money to improve a certain area, they'll embark on that portion. In other words, they'll incrementally develop the pathway as land and then funding becomes available. Ideally, officials want to connect areas within and beyond Erie County, envisioning the pathway reaching 100 miles throughout Ohio. Just keep in mind how The Landing represents just one portion of the Sandusky Bay Pathway. Here's a look at other sections in the development and/or construction phases: • This year — The pathway should open from Cedar Point Drive to Hemminger Ditch through what's known as Castaway Crossing. • 2026 — The pathway should cross Hemminger Ditch to the sports center. Construction recently began on this portion. • 2026 — The pathway should connect Venice Road (U.S. 6) at Toft Dairy to Mills Street where it currently ends by AMVETS Park. The city continues to work with Norfolk Southern on designs to cross the railroad tracks. • 2026 — Construction on a pathway along a new Cedar Point Causeway will begin. There's no timetable for when work on the pathway could start or end. • 2026 — The pathway will weave through the Cove District between Meigs Street and Sycamore Line to Lockwood Avenue. • 2027 to 2028 — The pathway will be built along First Street. "We are continuing to build upon the existing pathway projects with the overarching goal being a pathway across the entire city for bicyclists and pedestrians to have views and access to our waterfront and connect all areas of the community together," Orzech said. Meanwhile, other related projects help complement the pathway's offerings, which would include it: • Linking with a planned, state-funded project for the aforementioned connectivity corridor spanning U.S. 6, linking Huron to Sandusky • Possibly connecting with where the former Old/Sandusky Bay Bridge once stood in Bay View; Port Clinton's government got a federal grant to study the possibility of building a bike path by reconstructing the bridge for non-motorized traffic. "The Sandusky Bay Pathway extension is a bold step toward creating a regional trail network that redefines how people experience our region," said Jeff Kerr, director of planning and policy for Greater Sandusky Partnership. Brady noted, in this scenario, patience has, thus far, paid off. "This project was presented as a 10- to 15-year process," Brady said. "Due to our staff's dogged determination and the financial assistance we have received on the state and federal levels, our residents and visitors will be enjoying this pathway much sooner."