Downtown Basketball Court Fast-Tracked for 2016 Cavs Championship Anniversary

This article was published through an exclusive content-sharing agreement with neo-trans.blog.

Plans for a re-imagining of the “Meet Me Here” park in Downtown Cleveland were fast-tracked by the City of Cleveland planning commission on Friday. The expedited process is now more clear given that developers seek to open it in time for the 10th Anniversary of the Cavaliers’ 2016 National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship.

Originally seeking conceptual approval, a quick turnaround that addressed changes suggested by the local design review advisory committee meant Bedrock Cleveland and Rock Entertainment Group (REG), the owners of the Cleveland Cavaliers, could seek additional approval with considerations.

The site is at the northeast corner of Ontario Street and Huron Road. NEOtrans broke the story on the park’s proposed use and development.

The park itself — currently a largely featureless, grassy plot — will be reinvigorated with a basketball court and seating areas for both players and spectators, as well as connective paths to adjacent streets and a plaza where the “Meet Me Here” letter blocks will be relocated. Protective fencing will keep basketballs from rolling into the busy streets.

Additional shade trees will be planted on site and a large banner honoring the iconic “Cleveland, this is for you” quote from LeBron James upon winning the 2016 NBA championship will be hung on the casino parking garage wall abutting the rear of the park. Just across East 4th Street, Bedrock will soon break ground on the new Cosm entertainment venue as part of its Rock Block development.

Just a month ago, plans for the corner of Huron and Ontario were hush-hush. But with the anniversary of the championship fast approaching, developers wanted to provide a new temporary activation to honor the event.

Key to these plans is the word “temporary.” Sources had previously suggested before the park was officially announced that any activation would be a temporary solution until Bedrock Cleveland finalized larger redevelopment plans for this high-profile Downtown corner.

Now confirmed, it remains to be seen whether this temporary use will evolve into an expanded basketball park or a brand-new development.

In the meantine, the park will feature one court with two built-in hoops and the ability to bring out further ones for other community events. The court will pay homage to the one used by the Cavaliers in 2016.

Planning commission members were very excited about the prospects of a new community space Downtown. While the project was approved for schematic design, there were several items the commission wanted developers to consider.

First was the orientation of the court itself, which commission member Andrew Sargeant suggested should be altered to prevent basketball players from looking directly into the sun while aiming for the western basket. Furthermore, consideration of additional tree plantings to serve as a buffer from the wind was suggested.

Ward 15 City Councilman and planning commission member Charles Slife asked the design team to reconsider the look of the “This is for you” banner and how it would be applied as a screening to the parking garage. Some felt it looked out of place next to the digital display board shining onto Ontario.

Slife also urged Bedrock to investigate if there was a way to work with the city on extending East 4th’s designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) to Rocket Arena in between the new park and Cosm.

The rationale was that if the park is expected to be a community space, many people patronizing the East 4th street bars and restaurants might want to bring a drink with them to watch some outdoor hoops before attending an event at Rocket Arena, Progressive Field or Cosm.

The site serves as one of the many entrances to the Gateway District of arenas and stadiums, just across from the main entrance to Rocket Arena. It is also just across the street from the many acres of land planned by Bedrock to be redeveloped into a riverfront park and a mix of potential hotel and residential high-rises.

Currently under construction is the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center (CCGPPC) — a world-class facility opening in 2027 that will serve as both the Cavaliers’ new practice facility but also a sports medicine and fitness center for the public operated by Cleveland Clinic. The partnership between the Cavaliers and the Clinic is one of the longest-standing in professional sports to date.

A reconstructed Eagle Avenue bridge will allow pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists to traverse the steep grade between Rocket Arena and Meet Me Here Park to the practice facility and the adjoining riverfront boardwalk.

And just across from the CCGPPC next to Cleveland Whiskey, Bedrock Cleveland recently announced plans for a new 6,200-seat amphitheater on the riverfront to be operated by Live Nation. While plans have yet to be submitted for the new venue, developers expect it to open in 2028.

Bedrock Cleveland recently accelerated their development timeline in Downtown Cleveland. What was previously expected to be a multi-decade investment has been aggressively proposed to take the next 5-10 years to complete.

Given how much remaining riverfront land is available to Bedrock’s disposal, expect announcements in the coming year on the next phases of this multi-billion dollar investment in Downtown.

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