As per city charter, any capital improvement projects that take place in the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve must be approved by voters.
Mentor Issue 4 will appear on the May 6, 2025, ballot and the proposed ordinance reads as follows:
To approve the construction of an observation tower within the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve with the assistance of grant funding.
The proposed 92-foot-tall structure would be located on the marsh rim approximately 1,000 feet north of the main trailhead entrance. The tower would feature a 25’ x 25’ top deck and offer panoramic views of the marsh and uplands area extending to Lake Erie, as well as an ADA-accessible elevated platform.
If the issue is approved by Mentor voters, construction on the observation tower will begin this summer. If the issue is rejected by Mentor voters, the project shall be tabled indefinitely, and $450,000 in grant funding from ODNR will be rescinded.
For questions related to the observation tower project or ballot issue, contact the Mentor Public Information Office at pubinfo@cityofmentor.com.