Over the last several years, the Mentor Lagoons Marina and Nature Preserve has become a popular destination for boaters, kayakers, hikers, and birdwatchers. Miles of trails lead along the rim of the Mentor Marsh and upland forest to a wild beach and the crashing waves of Lake Erie.
In 2020, Mentor voters approved issues authorizing the City to offer marina-related amenities and build an ADA-accessible boardwalk, observation deck, and tower. The new boardwalk will provide a vantage point along the western edge of the Mentor Marsh and the waterfowl, birds, plants and animals that live there.
Construction of the first two phases of the boardwalk project will soon be underway and anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. This includes construction of an accessible walkway from the main trailhead along the marsh rim as well as an observation deck. The next phase will add an observation tower.
The cost of the first two phases of the project amounts to $466,806 which is offset by two Coastal Management Assistance Grants totaling $236,706 received from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
We thank NOAA for helping to fund the project and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for their assistance in developing the project that will provide additional access to this natural area.
Other improvement projects at the Lagoons include the recently completed revetment extension. The City, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources, extended the stone revetment along the western shoreline an additional 600 feet to combat erosion and protect the marina and marsh from being breached by Lake Erie. An earth mound was also added along the north side of the Dock A access road approximately 2 feet high and 14 feet wide to prevent wave surges that may go around the revetment.
Crews also finished replacing 436 lineal feet of bulkhead along Dock D along with a paved walkway, finish grade, and over-seeding of the construction area. Bulkhead replacement will take several decades but will ensure the long-term integrity of the Marina.
Finally, a gas dock will be added to the marina area to benefit both those who dock at the Lagoons as well as visiting boaters. The improvement, approved by Mentor City Council in May, should be installed and operational this boating season.
The City of Mentor boasts over 1,200 acres of parkland attracting thousands of residents and visitors each year. Maintaining and improving our parks is a job we are committed to. We thank our state and federal funding partners for helping make improvements possible. For a complete list of city parks, visit cityofmentor.com/mentor-parks.