Rivergate Park

In the fall of 2010, the rebirth of an industrial Cleveland neighborhood reached a milestone when Trust for Public Land and the Cleveland Rowing Foundation successfully purchased 7 acres of commercial riverfront land. The partnership converted a vacant concrete-covered site into Rivergate Park, a vibrant recreational center in the Flats.

Opened in May 2011, the park preserves public access to the Cuyahoga River for healthy, people-powered activities such as kayaking, canoeing, rowing, and dragon boating. Rivergate Park also allows for expanded programming, such as a learn-to-row program for urban youth that has proved successful in other cities.

The project took shape when the Cleveland Rowing Club faced the loss of their boathouse, which served large numbers of boaters including local high school and college crew teams, kayakers, and dragon boaters. When the group approached TPL, both partners recognized that finding a new site for their facility also presented an opportunity to create a riverfront park and recreational gem in downtown Cleveland.