CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy (CHEERS) project partners announced on Oct. 13 that a lakefront transformational project is entering its design phase.  

​According to a Cleveland Metroparks press release, the concept of the CHEERS project emerged after a yearlong study to determine how to transform Cleveland’s lakeshore.

Some goals of the project include reconnecting communities to the lake, improving public health, bolstering the economy and benefiting the environment.

CHEERS project partners include the City of Cleveland, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Black Environmental Leaders Association, Cleveland Metroparks and the Port of Cleveland.

In an October board meeting, the Port of Cleveland’s Board of Directors approved a $3.75 million contract with Arup Engineering to manage the design and services needed to continue with the CHEERS project.

“We’re excited to be moving forward into the design phase of this transformational and vital project that will benefit Northeast Ohio communities for generations to come,” said William D. Friedman, President and CEO of the Port.

The project is funded through a collection of funds provided by the partners and grant funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund and the Maritime Assistance Program.

The estimated 30-year plan envisions a phased development of the shoreline, including a new accessible isle along the lake.

The project intends to transform Cleveland’s East Side lakefront to a natural living shoreline with play spaces, trails, fishing areas and more.

“We are excited to see CHEERS continue to gain momentum,” said Cleveland’s Chief of Integrated Development Jeff Epstein. “This project has the potential to have transformational impact on Cleveland’s East Side lakefront and to eliminate longstanding barriers to access for residents.”