Sandusky is finally turning a long-promised stretch of back bay shoreline into The Landing, a 27-acre waterfront park taking shape just steps from the Cedar Sports complex. The project is designed to pull everyday life back to the water with trails, boardwalks, kayak launches, an event pavilion, a playground and bridges over restored wetlands. Construction began in October 2025, and city officials say the work is expected to take about 18 months, with a target opening in spring 2027. The park follows roughly a decade of planning capped by a key land donation from Cedar Point that local leaders say made the whole vision realistic.
Project manager Megan Stookey calls the site a rare chance to bring people directly into coastal wetlands and told News 5 Cleveland the effort has been "10 years in the making." Plans show multiuse trails running through the park and tying into the existing Sandusky Bay Pathway, with city officials emphasizing that the design is meant to protect sensitive habitat while still improving public access. Crews moved onto the site in October 2025, and the city expects the major features to be installed over the next year and a half.
Origins and partners
The Landing traces back to planning tied to the former Griffing Airport property and the Sports Force Parks development. In 2019, Cedar Point donated roughly 30 acres near the sports complex to the city, a contribution that helped turn the park from concept to actual project, as reported by the Sandusky Register. The park has since been formalized as a partnership among the city, Cedar Point and Erie MetroParks, with officials saying that shared stewardship approach helped clear a path for long-term management. Even so, environmental permitting and the search for financing slowed progress for years before construction finally started in late 2025.
Funding and access
City leaders folded The Landing into a broader package of investments that includes tax-increment financing for the Sports Force Park area and federal corridor grants intended to improve connections along Route 6. Taken together, those tools helped unlock construction for what one industry outlet characterized as a roughly 19 million dollar bayfront undertaking, as reported by BusinessView Magazine. A mix of local, state and private funding, along with foundation support, ultimately bridged the gaps that had opened during years of permitting and fundraising delays.
How it will connect
The Landing is designed as a central hub on the Sandusky Bay Pathway, with renderings and fundraising updates showing the multiuse trail running straight through the new park and then continuing west toward downtown and east toward Huron, according to the Wightman-Wieber Foundation. Foundation leaders have provided grants to extend the pathway and upgrade pedestrian safety along Shoreline Drive, moves local officials say will make a continuous bayfront route more realistic for walkers and cyclists.
Local reaction and next steps
Residents who turned out for the groundbreaking said they were eager for easier day-to-day access to the water, not just visits during peak tourist season. "Our water is our greatest resource," Stookey said, while Sandusky Communications Manager Tom Horsman told News 5 Cleveland the park will add to the experience for the millions who already come for Cedar Point and other attractions. The outlet also quoted Cedar Point saying it was "happy to be part of this project." City officials say some elements, such as certain trail links and stretches of boardwalk, could open early while remaining features are built out over the 18-month construction window.
