Visitors will not be able to access Lake Medina from Sept. 14 through Sept. 25 while crews stabilize the dam, repave part of the trail system and finish work at the Granger Road entrance, according to the Medina County Park District. The closure covers the entire 233-acre park and is scheduled to include installation of riprap around the earthen dam and construction-related access restrictions.
The closure was reported by Cleveland.com, in a report by Emily Canning-Dean. The riprap work was required by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, according to Medina Gazette. Crews also plan to repave a little under a mile of the paved trail system during the closure.
New Kayak Launch and Fishing Pier Take Shape
Construction at the Granger Road entrance is one reason access is being restricted. The entrance, its parking lot, picnic shelter and steps were closed to make room for heavy equipment, according to the Medina Gazette's report on the project's phased closures. During the broader Sept. 14-25 shutdown, the entrance will remain closed as crews finish the kayak launch area.
When it opens, the new kayak launch will be ADA accessible and feature two paddlecraft launches extending from the shoreline into Lake Medina, as reported by Medina County Park District. The same structure will double as a fishing pier, with designated areas where visitors can sit or stand while casting a line, promising better fishing access once the work is finished.
How Lake Medina Became Parkland
According to the Medina County Park District, Lake Medina was leased to the district in 2003, providing historical context for its management of the property. The district's listed history does not specify what public purpose the site served before that lease.
Detours for Long-Distance Hikers
The closure isn't just a local inconvenience — it also reaches hikers on the 1,440-mile Buckeye Trail, which cuts through the Medina Section along the lake. The Buckeye Trail Association issued an alert rerouting through-hikers around Lake Medina from Sept. 14 through Sept. 25, directing them onto a sidewalk along Foote Road, then along the berm of Weymouth Road and the berm to Granger Road for the duration.
Visitors looking for an alternative closer to home still have one option: Shotwell Gardens, the park's third entrance, will remain open during the closure. The gardens feature accessible paved paths, garden ponds, and a small outdoor amphitheater.
Weather Could Push Back the Reopening
The Sept. 25 reopening date remains weather-dependent. Isaac Smith said workers expect to meet it if conditions cooperate, but an extended period of rain could prolong the closure.
Lake Medina is now public parkland managed by the Medina County Park District.
Part of a Larger Trail and Grant-Funded Push
The current dam and kayak work is part of the site's broader improvements. The site also includes a paved trail system.
The lake is also part of the park's broader landscape. Lake Medina is one of the sites managed by the Medina County Park District.
