Western Reserve Land Conservancy Champions Future of Euclid Beach: Mobile Home Community Property Transfers to Cleveland Metroparks

Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Ohio’s largest land trust, announces the transfer of the Euclid Beach Mobile Home Community on September 4—covering 28.5 acres on Cleveland’s North Collinwood lakeshore—to Cleveland Metroparks. The property has officially become part of the public park system, marking a milestone in the creation of a unified, publicly accessible green space along Lake Erie.

“We acquired the Euclid Beach property to keep it in local hands, to prevent private or commercial development, and to ensure its legacy is preserved as a welcoming public space for all people,” said Rich Cochran, President and CEO of Western Reserve Land Conservancy. “This thoughtful transition to Cleveland Metroparks reflects our deep commitment to both environmental stewardship and honoring the lives of the people who have called that land home.” 

This announcement comes after a multi-year process. The Land Conservancy purchased the property in 2021 to protect it from development. In 2022, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress led a year-long planning effort, engaging community members and residents to determine the best use of the land. The final recommendation was to consolidate the site with Euclid Beach Park, Villa Angela Park, and Wildwood Marina. Throughout 2023 and 2024, the Land Conservancy carried out an extensive engagement and relocation effort, offering residents relocation funds and support services to help more than 100 households transition to new homes. By late 2024, the last residents had moved out, and demolition and site clearing had begun.

“This land transfer will help bridge our community to our greatest natural asset, Lake Erie, and help make the lakefront plan a reality,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “This project will improve access, boost economic development, and create a more vibrant, connected, and inclusive lakefront for generations to come.”

Local leadership has long championed this outcome. Councilman Polensek, whose representation includes the North Shore Collinwood area, reflected on the journey: “When I was officially notified several years ago that the previous owner planned to evict the residents and sell off the property for development I immediately reached out to every agency I could to help me to protect this historic lakefront property. I cannot thank Western Reserve Land Conservancy enough. I look forward to working with the Metroparks’ Board of Commissioners and Staff in developing one of the best lakefront parks along the shore of Lake Erie.”
 
Once the land is transferred, Cleveland Metroparks will make a tremendous investment to reimagine the space and integrate it into its lakefront park system, enhancing regional access to waterfront trails and open space.
  
“The addition of 28.5 acres at the historic Euclid Beach Park will enhance public access to Lake Erie for generations to come,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman. “I want to thank the tremendous team at Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Councilman Polensek for their efforts to preserve and transition this property. As we look to increase public access to the park, we will be conducting a community-driven planning process to ensure that we are delivering the best impact for the park and its guests as well as the surrounding neighborhood.” 

The handover symbolizes the next chapter for Euclid Beach—transforming a piece of local history into a living, breathing public asset that honors the past while investing in the future.