Members of Mentor City Council, other elected officials, and representatives from other agencies broke ground on the new Mentor Lagoons boardwalk project during a brief ceremony on August 4th at the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve.
Phases 1 and 2 of the project include construction of an ADA-accessible, 442-foot boardwalk connected to the main trail head and an observation deck along the western edge of the Marsh, providing an ideal vantage point to view the flora and fauna that thrive here.
The cost of the first two phases is $466,806, which is offset by two grants received through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Coastal Management Assistance Grants program totaling $233,403. This is a federally funded program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The project is furthered assisted by a $25,000 grant from the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau, better known as Remarkable Lake County. The City of Mentor thanks ODNR, NOAA and Remarkable Lake County for their assistance and cooperation in partnering on this important project. Phases 1 and 2 are expected to be complete and open to the public by the end of 2022.
Phase 3 of the project is the construction of an 80-foot observation tower immediately adjacent to the observation deck looking out onto the western basin of the Marsh. Construction of this final phase is estimated to cost $1.1 million. The City of Mentor has been granted $450,000 in funding through the 2023-2024 State of Ohio Biennial Budget. Construction of the tower is estimated to begin in 2023.
Mentor City Council approved the first two phases of a three-phase project in 2021 to provide better access for residents and guests to appreciate the unique habitat that is the Mentor Marsh.