Scheeff East Point Preserve Shoreline Restoration and Park Closure Update

By Neal Hess

The Put-in-Bay Township Park District anticipates construction to kick off at its Scheeff East Point Preserve this spring, which will result in the temporary closure of the Scheeff East Point Preserve Park. The end of Columbus Ave. (State Route 357), a popular summertime turnaround and hangout spot, will also be closed during construction and the last public turnaround point will be the Massie Cliffside Preserve parking lot, which is also on Columbus Ave. Signs will be posted accordingly during the park and road closures.

The purpose of this project is to restore the Scheeff East Point Preserve shoreline, which has experienced severe coastal erosion resulting in significant land and habitat loss. The Park District and its contractors will be implementing a nature-based restoration project, which will stabilize the eroding shoreline with natural materials, while also improving habitat for a variety of fish, bird and other native species.

The Scheeff East Point Preserve park and road closures will be temporary and they will reopen as soon as construction work is completed. Construction commenced in March and be completed by June; however, the exact construction schedule will vary based upon the timing of the receipt of the final permits. Updates regarding the park and road closure timeframes will be located on the Park District webpage, which is www.putinbayparks.com. We appreciate your understanding and support during this closure and we look forward to providing Put-in-Bay residents and visitors with an improved park setting once the project is completed.

This shoreline restoration project is being funded grants from three different sources: a National Coastal Resilience Fund grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC), and an Emergency Erosion Assistance Grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ODNR Emergency Erosion Assistance Grant also funded the improvements to Deist Road on Middle Bass Island through a collaboration between Put-in-Bay Township and the Park District.