Ohio added 8 Lake Erie public access sites in last five years

Lake Erie access points

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Office of Coastal Management keeps track of Lake Erie public access points.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- About 20 percent of Ohio’s 312 miles of Lake Erie shoreline is publicly accessible, according to the most recent Ohio Department of Natural Resources survey. That’s up 1 percent from the last assessment in 2015.

Ohio has 195 beach and other Lake Erie access sites, according a draft of the Coastal Management Assessment for 2021-2025. You can comment on the assessment through March 16.

Scudder Mackey, chief of ODNR’s Office of Coastal Management, said the sites are not necessarily new. But the office is doing a better job of identifying and publicizing access sites. You can find them all on its website, and also in a free book.

The state lists the access sites, the location and amenities available.

“Were just trying to maximize the opportunity for people to interact and see the lake,” Mackey said in a phone interview. “We have a beautiful lake. It’s a tremendous resource. It’s an economic resource for the state.”

Visitors spent about $15.1 billion in the eight coastal counties in 2017, supporting nearly 128,000 jobs.

Mackey said interest in the lake has increased in the last five years, especially with stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

“The more we can do to get people down to the lake and ... interact with the lake and take advantage of what it has to offer, that’s all good for the state of Ohio.”

Ohio has five outdoor recreation priorities:

-- Advance the trail network

-- Improve existing facilities

-- Emphasize recreational opportunities

-- Improve awareness and access to opportunities

-- Protect the natural environment

Current numberChange since 2015
Beach access sites87Up 4
Swimmable beaches42Up 2
Shoreline access sites (aside from beaches)108Up 4
Recreational power boat access312Up 13
Paddling only access29Up 31
Fishing jettys, piers, etc59Up 3
Coastal trails341.4 milesUp 110.1 miles (including water trails
Access sites22,722 acresUp 1,482 acres

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