Cleveland Metroparks looks to natural inspiration for the new Lindsey Family Play Space

Back in the day about the only thing that a kid would need to play would be a ball, a can and an old broom stick. With those three simple items a thousand games were born. Happily, times have changed and for the better. Today, the Cleveland Metroparks officially opened the new Lindsey Family Play Space at Upper Edgewater Park.

Most heartening of all is that while the various people involved stood up to speak to those gathered, the sound of children's laughter could be heard from the extensive play area. This brought home the fact that our area children depend on us to provide them with safe but challenging areas where they can simply concentrate on being children.

In spite of a world wide pandemic, snow storms and material shortages the design team soldered on and was able to finish the project through the use of innovative design. Coming in at $500,000 the Cleveland Metroparks designed Play Space relied on feedback from the surrounding community in order to get the area just right.

The one acre area is filled with natural challenges that will serve children of all ages and abilities. This new Play Space is the largest one ever developed and built in the Cleveland Metroparks and is the result of a generous gift from Brett and Teresa Lindsey with the support of various local donors.

This new addition to the Edgewater Park complex provides accessible play and family gathering areas with a wide array of opportunities for children to have fun in the natural setting that is the Edgewater Park. Included in the Play Space are boulders, water and sand play areas, nature play areas, tunnels, climbing structures, slides, rock walls and rope challenges all designed to exercise the body and mind.

To quote Brett Lindsey, "Cleveland is our home and our family has been blessed to have had successful businesses that encourages us to give back to the community. Our hope is that this park will bring joy to countless families when they visit Edgewater Park in the near future."

Also attending the opening ceremony was Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman who said, "We are so thankful to bring this new community driven play area to Edgewater Park and our lakefront thanks the generous support of the Lindsey family as well as the significant contributions that came from individuals, corporations and foundations. The new Linsey Family Play Space is the result of a shared mission to connect more children and their families with nature and the many recreational opportunities in our communities.

Surrounding the one acre play space are open fields, a new paved loop trail that connects with Edgewater Beach Trail and surrounding neighborhoods. The area features a number of distinct play areas designed to challenge and serve children of all ages and abilities.

This past year the Edgewater Park, Whiskey Island and Wendy Park area celebrated over 2.3 million recreational visitors in 2020. With the opening of the Whiskey Island Trail and the Wendy Park Bridge the area is now linked to over 100 miles of bike and walking trails that travel all the way from the Lake Erie shore to Akron. This is another part of the legacy that is the Cleveland Metroparks. Families are encouraged to come and enjoy this new jewel in the Emerald Trail.