For nearly two decades, Lake County, Ohio, had been looking to enhance its Lake Erie waterfronts with increased recreational facilities. The Village of Fairport Harbor at the Grand River’s mouth on the Lake Erie shoreline was identified as a prime location early on, but nothing ever got beyond the basic concept stage. MSA was hired in 2017 by the Lake Development Authority (LDA) to determine if a marina was feasible. In 2020 the project was expanded, and MSA teamed with subconsultant Anchor QEA to revisit initial ideas and develop a master plan and report documenting the next phase of possible development. The stakeholders for the project include the Village, Port Authority, ODNR and the Lake County Metro Parks. 

Fairport Harbor lies east of Cleveland and has been a major access point for Lake Erie fishing for decades. The existing boat launch and transient marina needs total replacement. This project would dramatically expand public use at the Village-owned site. MSA’s initial study of the site covered existing conditions, feasibility of a larger marina, on-site amenities, and future expansion opportunities. 

The master plan calls for a launch facility that can handle a large influx of users. A new restroom / administration building with a fish-cleaning station is planned to be located near the dock access. A new breakwater will provide protection for a much larger transient marina with 106 slips and expansion capability of another 29 slips, plus new fuel dock with regular and diesel gas and an ODNR service dock with 2-ton crane for loading research vessels ranging from 40’ to 65’ in length. The ODNR dock will also provide wave protection to the marina. The Village center will ultimately connect to the marina site via a cart transportation service with an on-site wait station. Plans are to create a small retail center adjacent to a boater’s beach, with transformed shipping containers as proposed retail structures. Other connections will bring the marina into the overall park and open space plan that will ultimately extend two miles eastward as part of a regional trail system.  

Due to the complex nature of the site and the needs of multiple users, MSA, LDA, and ODNR found funding from a variety of resources. The Ohio state legislature provided the first funding for initial engineering. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources funded another $5 million for their research vessel docks, an application for a Tier II Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) was submitted at $1.5 million, and LDA provided funding for the rest. 

MSA is currently working with the Lake Development Authority on implementing the recommendations in the final study and master plan. Services include data acquisition and synthesis, schematic design and design development, permit application and grant acquisition efforts, construction documents, bid cycle services and construction support as needed to bring this long-awaited vision to fruition.