Cleveland Metroparks Unveils a New and Improved Hinckley Lake

Whether you’re lying on the sand, gliding through the water or rowing your boat, Hinckley Lake offers plenty of sun-soaked fun on its shores. Following a lake and dam rehabilitation project, the waters are once again welcoming visitors this summer.

“I think it’s going to be a great addition for people to get out and take their kids for the first time this summer,” says Jacqueline Gerling, the director of communications for Cleveland Metroparks.

Hinckley Lake was originally dammed in 1927, and it had not been rehabilitated until 2023, when Sean McDermott, the chief planning and design officer for Cleveland Metroparks, drained the lake alongside his team. The work began several years before draining took place.

“We have been working since about 2016, so nearly 10 years, to reinvest into the dam and modernize it and rehabilitate it to meet modern standards,” McDermott says.

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For the two-and-a-half years that Hinckley Lake was drained, the Cleveland Metroparks team made several improvements to the space, one of which was dredging the southern portion, removing 45,000 cubic yards of dredge waste. They also dredged out certain settling areas so the waste will be concentrated in one spot and easier to handle. To modernize the dam, McDermott and the team added new controls for valves and outlets in order to manage flooding. In total, the project cost $12 million, which included the dredging.

The team started refilling the lake last fall. Following the improvements they made, refilling the lake took several weeks, especially considering they had to draw the lake down, or lower the lake’s water level, which has many restrictions by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

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When refilling the lake, McDermott noticed patterns from different species in response. He observed that most fish migrated downstream, while beavers migrated upstream. One unexpected occurrence was a bird migration spot that developed over the two years the lake was drained. Now that the lake is refilled, these birds will simply migrate elsewhere.

One of the most beloved parts of Hinckley Lake is the spillway beach area. Cleveland Metroparks  improved the area by installing new sand, a new lifeguard shack, new steps and a new walkway that goes toward the beach.

Visitors can rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, canoes and paddle boats for anywhere from $25 to $45 per hour. The outdoor recreation team is also leading classes throughout the summer, teaching how to use the water equipment. 

“We’re so lucky to have that as an amenity and as an option for recreation here in the Cleveland area,” Gerling says.

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