Medina County Park District plans design and engineering work for Chippewa Lake phase 2

SHARON TWP. — With phase one of the Medina County Park District's Chippewa Lake project planned to open in 2026, the park district is starting the design and engineering process of phase two. Park district Planning Manager Isaac Smith introduced a request for qualifications and a request for proposal for Chippewa Lake phase two to the park district commissioners on Wednesday. "Now that we are getting close to the completion of phase one of Chippewa Lake, which will be the trailhead off the corner of Longacre Lane and Lake Road, we are working towards the next steps of the development on the lakefront side of Chippewa Lake," he said. Phase two would be in the area where the amusement park stood. Smith said the park district wants to get underway with the designing and engineering services for that project in preparation to potentially start the bid process in 2027. He said the ultimate goal would be to begin construction work toward opening that site in 2028 to the public, which aligns with the 50th anniversary of the amusement park closing. "That tells a good story and good message on how we are re-utilizing that site and opening it back up to the public," Smith said. "But the first step is getting the design and engineering completed so we can get that project out to bid. We know that it is going to be a very complex project, given the nature of the former amusement park and the work that we did with the H2Ohio restoration work." He said the park district wants to get started as soon as possible. "The amenities are going to be relatively simple," Smith said. "We are mostly building roadways, trails and picnic areas, but making sure that we are setting the table for future development on the site as well. We want to make sure that we are accounting for everything we need and taking the time necessary to do it right." He said the elements that are being put out for the design and engineering services are coming from the master plan that was created in 2021, which used public engagement events. "The public and community helped form what that master plan is," Smith said. "We are taking a lot of those elements that we feasibly can get off the ground right now and can incorporate those into this project." Park district Director Nate Eppink said through the use of design and engineering work, the park district can direct people to what is next following the opening of phase one later this year. "We'll be able to point to the fact that we are under design now and hopefully within a year or a year and a half we'll go out to bid for construction," he said. "The amusement park closed in 1978. 50 years later, we've done a big clean-up after acquiring the property, and a big master plan, we've got these amenities open 50 years after it closed. "That's a really cool story. We have a lot of things going right now, but it's all planning and it will put us in a good shape and position for 2028." For more information on the project and the history of the former site of the amusement park, visit chippewalakeohio.com. Contact reporter Patrick Rhonemus at (330) 721–4050 or prhonemus@medina-gazette.com.