Dedication Set For Lakewood Park Historical Marker

On Thursday, September 8 at 5:30 p.m., an Ohio Historical Marker commemorating the history of Lakewood Park will be dedicated in Lakewood Park in Lakewood, Ohio. A small reception will immediately follow the dedication. The public is invited to both events.

Any current resident of Lakewood, Ohio is familiar with the spacious park on Lake Erie which is the site of so many family and community events each year. Fewer, however, are aware of the various roles this piece of land has played in the history and development of the city. Lakewood Park has a rich history. First owned by a noteworthy early settler family, the parcel later became the home for a member of a renowned Cleveland family who hosted celebrated guests on this grand estate. Then it entered an extended period of civic use as a hospital annex, the center of Lakewood’s government, an educational asset and a public park.

The evolution of the property reflects the changing settlement and development patterns found throughout Lakewood (formerly Rockport Township). The history of the property can be separated into distinct periods of significance: The Early History; The Rhodes Era; Early Civic Era; and Current Civic Use.

Administered by the Ohio Historical Society, the Historical Markers program enables Ohioans to commemorate and celebrate local history and to learn more about the state. Designed to be permanent and highly visible, the historic markers are large cast-aluminum signs that tell stories about aspects of Ohio's history. To date, there are more than 1,000 Ohio Historical Markers throughout the state.

In addition to support from the City of Lakewood, the marker was funded by a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The Lakewood Historical Society receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region’s artistic and cultural heritage.