Mentor voters approved Issue 4 on May 6, 2025, authorizing the construction of a 92-foot tower on the marsh rim, approximately 1,000 feet north of the main trailhead at the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve. According to the city charter, all capital improvement projects in the preserve require voter approval.
Of the 3,479 votes cast, 2,550 (73.3%) supported the measure, while 929 (26.7%) opposed it.
The tower will feature a 25′ x 25′ top deck, offering panoramic views of the marsh, uplands, and Lake Erie, along with an ADA-accessible elevated platform.
Mentor City Council approved funding for the project, estimated at $2.5 million, as a capital expenditure in the 2024 Annual Budget. Due to delays in the planning phase, the funding was carried over to the 2025 Annual Budget. A $450,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be offset a portion of the cost.
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.