Waterworks Park - Linda Higgins

Waterworks Park on Perry Street took its name from the Waterworks building erected there about 1888 to pump water from the Portage River for distribution throughout town. At that time, the superintendent of the “works” and his family lived on the top floor. The building expanded in the early 20^th century, becoming a municipal site.

The park itself has moved through many layers of planning and change since then. Recent planning has served to enhance public access and, therefore, enjoyment of our shoreline. Commercial, recreational, historical and natural areas are all linked, providing protection and balance for our waterfront. The City of Port Clinton received a Coastal Management Grant earlier in this century to develop a plan for the entire Port Clinton downtown and lake shore. It collaborated with the Regional Planning Commission and Ottawa County Improvement Corporation. Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc., EDGE Planning, Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Office of Coastal Management all were instrumental in helping produce a viable vision. The City’s grant application noted that the planning area is within three watershed areas: the Cedar-Portage, Sandusky, and Lake Erie Watersheds. The City and County promoted the concepts of protection, preservation, and restoration of these watersheds and Lake Erie. A Black Swamp Conservancy representative joined the steering committee during the concept presentations involving community representatives: private individuals, area groups, and businesses.

The park had been used for informal recreation for decades. This purposeful coalition incorporated earlier community planning efforts (Water Works Park Multipurpose Trail System, 1999; Waterfront Protection and Enhancement Plan, 2001; Waterworks Park Redevelopment Plan, 2006; Market Study and Strategic Planning Initiative, 2009; Downtown Revitalization Plan, 2014; Beacon Survey, 2014; and Downtown Market Study/Survey, 2014) with local public and nonprofit planning organizations. Concerns, beyond ecological and historical integrity, included costs, park maintenance, flooding, amenities, signage, parking, potential impact on businesses and private property, obstructed views and liability issues. The necessity for public involvement in decisions, transparency and attention to private-sector matters was, and is, consistently stressed.

The plan’s projected outcome was to make Port Clinton a model for responsible waterfront development, balancing natural preservation with economic growth. It followed national and state coastal management policies, including the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and Ohio’s Coastal Management Program. As well as sustainable use, protection, and management of Lake Erie resources, the strategy and vision also promoted the connection between the lake and our downtown.

The financial responsibility was, naturally, a major concern for this small town. For instance, costs were estimated at around $5.5 million for walkways and $2.1 million for docks. Funding options included grants from ODNR, ODOT, and private donations.

Our park on Lake Erie connects the town's historic boating, fishing, and lake action with daily living through public access to the water, a beach, a nearby preserve and other natural areas, a trail around the pond, other walkways, the historic lighthouse, play areas, storied statues, trees and landscaped areas, picnic areas and benches, as well as docks and fishing access. The park hosts annual events such as the Port Clinton Lighthouse Festival, the Walleye Festival, the Walleye Drop, and other celebrations of life on the lake, sometimes with fireworks!

This park is ADA-compliant, and has public restrooms and ample parking. The proximity to Port Clinton’s commercial area has linked the waterfront’s natural attributes and recreational opportunities to shopping and dining for both locals and tourists throughout the year, and access to our public library, other parks, the county museum, and the ferry.

Waterworks Park, as we know it, would not exist had the property been developed as proposed in 2013 to include a lodge, conference center, restaurant, indoor and outdoor pool, retail space, and over 100 residences. Local residents and many who vacationed in this area created quite a backlash, and even those who supported this proposal eventually realized that our waterfront would be better as a historic and serene lakeside entity.

Our lakefront park continues to develop through thoughtful and precise planning and execution. Deep involvement by community individuals provides invaluable input. As a result, Waterworks Park faithfully represents our engaged and caring lake community.