Cleveland Heights is staring down a big decision about one of its most beloved but battered landmarks: Cumberland Pool. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, parks and recreation took center stage as officials wrestled with a basic question that has big price tags attached. Smaller neighborhood projects, like playgrounds and street work, also shared the spotlight, but the long-term fate of the pool loomed largest. Council ultimately told staff to go chase outside funding, although there is still no firm timeline for building anything new.
Council resolution steers planning toward a replacement
Mayor Jim Petras put forward a resolution that would put the city on record saying Cumberland Pool has reached the end of its useful life. The measure directs staff to seek state and federal grants, look at regional cost-sharing, and explore intergovernmental partnerships that could help pay for a replacement facility. Council members also pushed for emergency passage so the city can apply for an Ohio Safe Routes to School grant and signaled interest in going after state capital funds, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Nearly a century old and showing its age
Cumberland Pool opened in 1927 and has served as a neighborhood summertime hub for generations, according to the Cleveland Heights Historical Society. Age has not been kind. The pool has been dogged by recurring maintenance problems. Last season, the city lined up alternative pools for pass holders and pushed the 2025 opening back by about two weeks while crews tried to track down persistent leaks. WOIO reported on those delays.
Other park projects and funding
The pool was not the only item on the agenda. Council also talked through a proposed tot-lot next to the Denison Park splash pad, a roof replacement request for the Alma Theatre, and engineering work tied to a planned roadway extension. The Blanche Avenue extension already has $850,000 in federal community-project funding, and the city has signed off on preliminary engineering work for that project, according to city records and congressional funding announcements. “We want to hear as much public input as possible to inform our decisions, using that engagement to refine the designs for the roadway and landscaping,” City Planning Director Eric Zamft said, as reported by Cleveland.com. See the city's resolutions listing for the engineering authorization and related paperwork.
Deadlines, grants and next steps
The push to move quickly is tied to tight grant windows. The Ohio Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School application cycle carried a March 6 deadline this year, and staff told council they want the city ready to go after state capital funding when those opportunities surface. Council plans to keep the conversation going in committee meetings and public hearings while staff works up grant applications and engineering plans. Residents can follow along and check meeting details and documents on the City of Cleveland Heights calendar.
