Maybe get the same guy who is doing the one on north coast harbor, and maybe more

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/09/bridge_architect_miguel_rosale.html

 

Like what I see there!

 

I got excited about the Whiskey Island bridge, until I saw that it runs north-south, not east-west.  No way for peds to walk from Flats East Bank to the island without traveling 1/2 mile farther than it takes by car!  d'oh!

^When the Center Street Bridge opens next year (before the Whiskey Island Bridge is opened), one can once again walk from the East to the West Bank.

^  Yes, but it's still a 2 mile walk to cross a 500 ft wide river.  I'm just saying that east-west is route I'd use. 

Hi, trav.  Welcome to the UO forum!

^ Yes, but it's still a 2 mile walk to cross a 500 ft wide river. I'm just saying that east-west is route I'd use.

 

There is no east-west route for a bridge to Whiskey Island.  The land to the North of the RR tracks on the East Bank is owned by the port or whoever owns those silos.  Even if you were to build a bridge there (lift or draw bridge at significant expense) you would still need to construct a path over/under the RR tracks.  To construct an East-West bridge would mean the construction of two bridges.  One to get over the river and one to get over the RR tracks. 

There is no east-west route for a bridge to Whiskey Island. The land to the North of the RR tracks on the East Bank is owned by the port or whoever owns those silos. Even if you were to build a bridge there (lift or draw bridge at significant expense) you would still need to construct a path over/under the RR tracks. To construct an East-West bridge would mean the construction of two bridges. One to get over the river and one to get over the RR tracks.

 

I understand, but don't think RR tracks need have a bridge over them.  A level gated pedestrian crossing should be less expensive than I bridge.  I would even argue that it doesn't even need to be gated.  I grew up in the country where most RR crossings are simply marked and people cross at there own risk.  (Cleans the gene pool faster) 

 

I'm sure there are lots of reasons why it can't be done, but I thought a ped-xing bridge attached to the side of the existing RR bridge would be the most cost effective way to get it done.  Then you could cross the river from east to west on the south side of the RR bridge and either cross the RR tracks at level to go north to Wendy Park or just head south to Flats West Bank. 

 

Boreas - Thanks, I've been a member for nearly two year, I just haven't had much to say.

http://www.parkworks.org/wendypark.html

 

There are 3 master plan ideas for the area

Great link! Plus it gives you the opportunity to give your input on the design choices.

I had the opportunity to attend the Oct 24th presentation of the 3 plans at the GLBC meeting.

 

I like option 1 personally.

 

Option 2 --not enough parking and access..... I know that the eco-community would like it, but not enough action for me.

 

Option 3 -- lots of commerce with rentals and such but I'm not sure how realistic that is.

 

However, anythign that restores some sanity to the bar area I'll be happy with. Wendy Park/WIM as "Shooters" is unpleasent to me.

I like a mix of Option B and C. I think the urban forest it has now is very attractive, and certainly much more different that anything else offered at a lakefront park in or near Cleveland. But I also like the bridge extension from the old river channel coming in to the center of the park rather that the Cuyahoga River side of it. And I don't care for the marsh inlet in Option B.

Discussion regarding Wendy Park was moved here from the Inner Belt/I-90 thread.

 

Trav: railroad companies don't want want at-grade crossings anymore, especially involving a right of way hosting up to 90 trains a day.

KJP:  Understood.  It make me sad to think that our world has got to the point were simple things can't be done since everyone is only looking at what's in it for me. 

Yep, companies are worried about the bottom line -- as they always have been. And the increased liability from more grade crossings is not good for the corporate bottom line. If anything has changed over the decades, its our increasingly litigious society.

Lake Erie is not the "best location for winter recreation" because of the howling winds, so forget about the sled riding hills and skating ponds.  Note that the east bank developments are going to be carefully aligned to minimize the wind speeds.  I am way skeptical of that idea.

 

Why don't they build a skating pond a mile to the west in a neighborhood where children can use it?

 

Lake Erie is a sweet place in the summer.  Option C with beached catamarans and other boats will create the largest constituency of Wendy Park advocates.  Start a bond fire and kick out the jams, brothers and sisters!

Where's the money for this coming from?  Version A seems the least costly.

^^ I think that appropriate siting on Whiskey Island along with an appropriately large stand of trees and brush to serve as a windbreak could mitigate a lot of that.  Lots of people sled at Edgewater!

 

^ The more lawn there is to mow, the higher the long-term maintenance costs!  I think option C is a good balance between A and B, as far as the actual park areas go (i.e. not thinking about the boat infrastructure.)

... Lots of people sled at Edgewater!...

Ok, thanks!

Change is coming to food service down at WIM/Wendy Park. I think it is a good one ...

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2011/02/21/crop-taking-over-food-duties-at-whiskey-island

 

The best part of Whiskey Island has never been the food at Sunset Grille. That will change this summer when Steve and Jackie Schimoler, owners of Crop Bistro, take over the food operations at the popular summer destination.

 

Kicking off at the annual Cinco de Mayo party, "Cropicana" will feature Crop's signature creative foods, reworked into breezy summer fare.

 

"We have been dying to do our version of groovy fast food," says Schimoler, who describes the menu as beach-inspired.

 

On weekends, the entire operation will be moved outdoors, with cooks operating from an alfresco kitchen. Grills, smokers, and a pig-roaster will be employed to feed the massive crowds, which can swell to literally 1,000 per day.....

I really hope this doesn't change the cost of food/drinks even worse than it is.  5 years ago you could get cheap food/drink now it's like being on west 6th.  That's not why people go down there, for fine dining.

Heh --- I guess you and I have a different perspective.  I am all for upping the cost of food and drinks in an effort get rid of the "beer tub  and 6 miller lites" crowd.

 

If some of the people that just want to go down there for a wild party at "Shooter's West" get priced out or if the atmosphere changes more to fine dining/country club so they don't want to be there I am 110% fine with it.

I suppose it's only natural there be some disagreement over Wendy Park. It is after all a limited resource.

 

Being situated at a Marina I'm not sure it's possible you can shake the "bucket of miller" blue collar boating crowd. I've accepted this, and have grown to appreciate the diversity a bit, even though I despise country music and cheesy tropical themed cover bands.

 

But the day the authorities try and confiscate my cooler is the day I'm gonna have to throw down! It's the freedom of Wendy Park that makes it great.  The moment they start feeling the need to crack down on people just minding their own business [read: open container] the place is ruined. 

 

 

Well, if there's a market for a Shooter's West, there should be a Shooter's West. Maybe not there, though. :)

Although perhaps a subtle difference, the drinkers of "miller lites" and "miller blue collar" people represent 2 distinctly different populations in my mind.

 

It is not the working class folk who want to come and enjoy the waterfront that cause problems. Actually, the tavern down at WIM has always served these folks and it's been great.  I Love the mix of bikers, boaters and tradesmen!!

 

It is the cheesy shooter's crowd that has swelled down at the Sunset over the last 3-4 years or so that's really dragging the place down. 

Oh...ha ha....gotcha.

 

:wink2:

I suppose it's only natural there be some disagreement over Wendy Park. It is after all a limited resource.

 

Being situated at a Marina I'm not sure it's possible you can shake the "bucket of miller" blue collar boating crowd. I've accepted this, and have grown to appreciate the diversity a bit, even though I despise country music and cheesy tropical themed cover bands.

 

But the day the authorities try and confiscate my cooler is the day I'm gonna have to throw down! It's the freedom of Wendy Park that makes it great.  The moment they start feeling the need to crack down on people just minding their own business [read: open container] the place is ruined. 

 

 

 

If you try and bring your on beer to Wendy Park, they will do exactly that and did multiple times last year when we played volleyball.

This is one of my favorite spots in the summer.  So no more $1.25 24 oz PBRs?  I completely agree with Serge... there are plenty of trendy, $5 microbrew, $10 cocktail bars in Cleveland.  I love the vibe here as is.

I suppose it's only natural there be some disagreement over Wendy Park. It is after all a limited resource.

 

Being situated at a Marina I'm not sure it's possible you can shake the "bucket of miller" blue collar boating crowd. I've accepted this, and have grown to appreciate the diversity a bit, even though I despise country music and cheesy tropical themed cover bands.

 

But the day the authorities try and confiscate my cooler is the day I'm gonna have to throw down! It's the freedom of Wendy Park that makes it great.  The moment they start feeling the need to crack down on people just minding their own business [read: open container] the place is ruined. 

 

 

 

If you try and bring your on beer to Wendy Park, they will do exactly that and did multiple times last year when we played volleyball.

 

Well that sucks.  I guess I'll be sticking closer to the bar/marina area then.

Once the pedestrian bridge is built, it will be crucial to limit the zones in which alcohol is permitted to keep the park from becoming a panhandler paradise.

 

The amount of people taking advantage of the park as a destination to "party" seems to have reached capacity.

 

I almost got hit by a quartet of bikers while cycling to Wendy Park in 2009. It was intentional and very scary. They all veered over to my side of the very narrow road with big drunken grins.

 

I've enjoyed beers at Wendy Park many, many times but the fun ended for me that day.

 

Enjoy the liberal alcohol policy while it lasts, because it's untenable as the number of visitors increases and demographic changes.

 

Sorry volleyball people, but this park stopped being exclusively yours years ago. We all have to deal with losing the "golden age" of this park--whenever we personally think that was.

As a guy who keeps his boat at WIM *and* also regularly uses the park with dogs, friends etc I wholly support tightening the alcohol policy. Liquor should only be at the bar/restaurant within license area.  Beyond that area, treat it as a metropark, not an anything goes party playground.

 

Many of the boaters met with the county representatives at the end of last season and one of the major concerns that arose was crowd control and alcohol fueld devauchery in the park and spilling onto marina grounds. The phrase "family friendly atmosphere" was used numerous times to desribe a goal for the park, marina and tavern.

 

I expect that 2011 will bring a significant increase in alcohol enforcement at Wendy Park.

So no more $1.25 24 oz PBRs?

 

The bar is not changing.  Steve is just taking over the kitchen.  They're going to be doing outdoor burger and pig roasts, not laying down white tablecloths... 

Why not just tighten the stupid, irresponsible behavior policy?

 

I'm sure you don't want the coast guard circling every boat in the marina for alcohol violations.  Shouldn't police resources be better suited elsewhere?

 

Do we need E. 4th street style fencing to keep people in licensed areas?

 

Really I've been coming to this place for ten years and I've never once seen a fight there. 

 

As a guy who keeps his boat at WIM *and* also regularly uses the park with dogs, friends etc I wholly support tightening the alcohol policy. Liquor should only be at the bar/restaurant within license area.  Beyond that area, treat it as a metropark, not an anything goes party playground.

 

Many of the boaters met with the county representatives at the end of last season and one of the major concerns that arose was crowd control and alcohol fueld devauchery in the park and spilling onto marina grounds. The phrase "family friendly atmosphere" was used numerous times to desribe a goal for the park, marina and tavern.

 

I expect that 2011 will bring a significant increase in alcohol enforcement at Wendy Park.

I take drunk boating more seriously than some a**holes publically urinating.  If you're boating while drunk you deserve what the USCG gives ya'

 

As for fighting....It's not like there's been stabbings or anything, but I witnessed "high drama pushing and shoving" that had to broken up by security a couple of times last summer in addition to one personally witnessed alcohol related EMS call.

 

(( Oh -- and this *excludes* Krusty's btw ...that's a whole 'nuther thing ))

 

In the long run, I think that having the Metroparks, who have long experience with public use areas and the abuse thereof, will be a good thing. The County has little to no desire to actively manage Wendy Park and just want out as soon as possible.

I have been to Sunset Grille exactly once and was not overly impressed.  The crowd did seem kind of douche-baggy too.  I didn't see any trouble, but it would not have surprised me one bit.  It seemed filled with the frat-boy, drinking from the night before types.  To be clear though, that was one, limited experience so take it FWIW.  The biggest issue, however, was access.  Hard as hell to find and, coming from the east, you have to drive way past it and then come back around to get there.  Improve that and Wendy Park's use will dramatically increase.

Improve that and Wendy Park's use will dramatically increase.

 

I like the fact it's a bit hidden, it doesn't get trappled over like some of the other hot spots in CLE, like E4th, the Melts, etc.  You really have to know what you're doing to get there.

But that's undemocratic!  It's not like Whiskey Island is a wilderness.  It's a mudflat, filled with rubble from Cleveland Municipal Stadium.  Bernie Kosar's broken dreams are in there somewhere.

It is really surprising hearing all of this.  I would go to Whiskey Island once a week over the summer and often ate at the restaurant.  While there were some frat boy and white trash types, I have never experienced or noticed any problems or tensions or super drunkeness.  Sure the restaurant got loud but not with that building tension you might find at a club.  People must take it easy there on Sundays.  I really can't recall any negative incidents there other than parking anxieties.

Off to Cropicana grand opening to celebrate Cinqo de Mayo :)        Will report back.

Edit: Prolly should keep review in the restaurant section.

 

here: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6769.0.html

Had an awesome time there yesterday afternoon; apparently the good crowd lasted throughout the evening:)

More info the proposed pedestrian bridge between Wendy Park and the Willow Street bridge.  Good stuff:

 

A trio of pedestrian bridges proposed by Boston architect Miguel Rosales could change the face of Cleveland

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/06/a_trio_of_pedestrian_bridges_p.html

Awesome!! I was just asking someone the other day what happened with this! I wasn't aware of the other bridges...very good for the walkability of university circle in that area...the amount of cars  on all those streets make it very unfriendly for walking.  Love the design as well...the bridge in Greenville is quite nice!!!

This really will be an awesome addition.  I know it will make Wendy Park less of a hidden spot for the clued-in set only (if it is that still), but will make it so much more accessible by foot and bike.

Can someone explain to me where the other end of the bridge to Wendy Park will be and how it makes it more convenient to pedestrians?  This is an honest question, the geography of this part of town confuses me and i dont know where i would go to use the bridge.  Does it connect people to the west bank of the flats?  It will be near my neighborhood and i bike alot, so i would use it, i just dont get where it takes me from Wendy.

From the diagram in the article it will take you from Wendy Park south over the RR tracks and the access road to the salt mine so that you can cross the vertical lift bridge and end up in the west bank area (River Rd and Elm St) and head up to Detroit Avenue/Ohio City.  I wouldn't say it's convenient, but it becomes a possibility keeping in mind I don't know the day to day nature of the area.  I'd want to know how much heavy-truck traffic comes out of the mine and that silo facility and whether the lift bridge is set up to or will be modified to facilitate pedestrian traffic.  I also suspect the average person familiar with the neighborhood will be detouring around Lakeview Terrace adding some distance to the trip.

 

I don't know if this is actually helpful to you, but I tried.

^Well, that would be better than the way you currently have to walk, which is down Whiskey Island Rd from Edgewater Park (a really long walk).

Yeah, wouldn't the bridge let you dodge the west bank entirely? I'd guess most of its use will be people going between the park and downtown, not between OC and downtown, except possibly for Stonebridge/Lakeview residents.

Curving bridges supported by cables exist in Europe, and Rosales designed a curving, $4.5 million pedestrian bridge over the Reedy River in Greenville, S.C. The span became so much of an attraction that it spurred $100 million in residential and office development in a blighted part of town.

 

Funny, at Wendy Park this weekend I just overheard two "real estate" types saying that the ped bridge would open the floodgates to positive development in the Flats.

 

Oh, also heard that the powers that be are "hell bent" on having the Towpath Trail end at Settlers Landing and not at the coast guard. Sorry I couldn't eavesdrop well enough to say why.

 

p.s. [warning] some of the .bomb comments are excruciatingly bad

Wait! So based on what you have heard the towpath is NOT coming all the way up to Cleveland?  That is a terrible waste!

^Isn't Settlers Landing in Cleveland?

Wait! So based on what you have heard the towpath is NOT coming all the way up to Cleveland?  That is a terrible waste!

 

Settlers landing is in the Flats somewhere, so it is coming north....someday....but to me and many others, the logical end point would be crossing Wendy Park to a renovated coast guard station with bike shop, museum, cafes, etc.

^^^ Settler's Landing is the park on the east bank across from the Nautica Pavilion ... errr The Jacob's Pavilion at Nautica, or something like that now.