Several parcels belonging to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, below its soaring Cuyahoga Viaduct near Downtown Cleveland, will be licensed to the Cleveland Metroparks for an expansion of its Rivergate Park, seen here on the other side of the Cuyahoga River (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Rivergate, Hillside parks to expand in Cleveland
Two parks in Cleveland are due to expand thanks to contributions of land by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA). The two parks involved are the Cleveland Metroparks’ Rivergate Park in the Flats near Downtown Cleveland and Hillside Park in the Kinsman neighborhood on the city’s East Side.
The transfers of properties were a topic of discussion at yesterday’s GCRTA board committee meetings and they could be approved at GCRTA’s regular board session scheduled for July 15.
First, the Metroparks approached GCRTA about taking over three vacant, grassy parcels of land totaling 1.3 acres located on or near Leonard, French and British streets. The site is on the Flats’ Columbus Road peninsula below the GCRTA Cuyahoga Viaduct.
The Metroparks wants to expand the redevelopment sites, public areas and greenspace at its already growing Rivergate Park. That area includes Merwin’s Wharf plus the nearby Grain Craft flour mill and Catanese Seafood properties. The area is part of the Metroparks’ Lakefront Reservation.
The three Flats parcels owned by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, below its Cuyahoga Viaduct, are outlined here with dashed lines (Metroparks).
“The (Metroparks’) concept is to develop these (GCRTA parcels) into what they call ‘clean and green’ space,” said GCRTA Property Manager James Reed. “That means that there will be minimal improvements — basically grass and shrubs to make a more inviting, useful space. They’ve also proposed a few all-purpose trails through the area.”
GCRTA wants to retain control of the properties for maintenance of the bridge piers and viaduct spans. That means it can close off public access to the parcels during work projects.
So rather sell or lease the parcels to the Metroparks, a 10-year license agreement with an option for another 10 years is pending board approval at both organizations. The parcels have a total taxable market value of $327,800, according to property records.
At GCRTA, a license agreement of more than three years of duration requires its board to approve it, Reed said. Among the terms and conditions, Metroparks will assume all development, operational and maintenance costs, make minimal improvements and have no interference with GCRTA operations. Approval of both the Metroparks and GCRTA is required for future proposed murals or other art installations.
At the East 79th Street Blue/Green Line Rapid transit station, the yellow line is the boundary between Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) property (above) and Burten Bell Carr Development Inc.’s (BBC) Hillside Park. The piece of land outlined in red will go from BBC to GCRTA and the piece of land outlined in blue will from GCRTA to BBC (Bowen).
“We’ve specifically prohibited extensive development of the parcels such as that it would provide gathering areas and that’s not their intention,” he said. “These are just three odd parcels that are really of no utility to GCRTA at all.”
Second, on the East Side, GCRTA initiated a property exchange with the nonprofit community development organization Burten Bell Carr Development Inc. (BBC) to aid in the reconstruction of the East 79th Street Rapid transit station on the Blue/Green Line linking Shaker Heights and downtown.
A new ADA-compliant walkway and ramp is planned on the land to be acquired by GCRTA. A $10 million reconstruction of the 1981-built East 79th station began last month so the station is closed until the work is done. Just up the street, the 1955-built East 79th Red Line station was rebuilt in 2021.
A 6,952-square-foot piece of land will be carved out of a larger GCRTA-owned parcel and traded for a 6,321-square-foot piece of land carved out of a larger BBC-owned parcel. The GCRTA parcel has the Blue/Green Line and East 79th station. The BBC parcel has Hillside Park.
Rendering of the new East 79th Street Blue/Green Line station after reconstruction work is completed at the of summer 2026. Hillside Park is at the bottom of the image (Bowen).
“It’s a win-win,” Reed said. “It gives us exactly what we need. We were going to have to take the 6,300 square feet anyway. This has been the design and plan from the beginning. This (land swap) helps us out a great deal.”
BBC representatives said they will gain the land for expanding the park or even for future development purposes. The site is not only next to two rapid transit stations but is along the Opportunity Corridor Boulevard which the city is actively trying to develop with new job-producing uses.
There will be no cash consideration as the exchanged parcels are deemed to be of equal value. As the initiator of the transaction, GCRTA will pay all of the closing costs which are not expected to be significant, Reed said.
The exchange is contingent upon the waiver of certain deed restrictions in favor of Shaker Heights and Cuyahoga County. Both of those parties have expressed their intent to cooperate on this project and there are no immediate objections to the land-swap proposal.
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