Hinckley Lake Dam Rehabilitation
Project Updates
Jun. 2025 - Construction at the spillway will be wrapped up this summer. The contractor has some restoration items to complete that will take place soon. The beach area will remain closed while dredging work takes place. Crews have been working at Buzzard's Roost in anticipation of the dredging operation. Currently, the in-lake haul roads are being constructed, and dredging will begin in the coming weeks once roads have been completed. The Lake Loop trail will be closed starting at Johnson's Picnic Area to the State Rd. Access point due to the dredging operation. In addition, later this summer, West Drive will be closed as well as the All-Purpose Trail from 6:00AM to 5:00PM Monday-Friday while dredging is in operation from the Boathouse Drive to State Road.
Please follow posted signs. All work is anticipated to be fully complete in Fall 2025. As a continued reminder, for the safety of our visitors, access to the lake is strictly prohibited for the duration of the project.
Construction Progress Photos
For a list of common questions and concerns about this project, please view our Hinckley Lake Dam Rehabilitation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) here.
About
This project includes the rehabilitation of Hinckley Dam in the Park District's Hinckley Reservation. The dam, which was completed in 1927, has provided recreation and helped mitigate flooding for nearly a century and created the 87-acre manmade Hinckley Lake. Over the next several years, the rehabilitation project will improve the recreational opportunities Hinckley Lake, raise the height of the existing earthen dam embankment that stretches across the northern portion of the lake and rehabilitate the 150-foot-wide concrete spillway to meet modern standards and provide improved protection in the event of severe flooding.
Over the last century, the Rocky River has deposited a significant amount of silt in Hinckley Lake, which varies in depths from 2-16 feet. Concurrently with the dam rehabilitation, Cleveland Metroparks will remove excess silt deposits in specific areas of the lake to allow for proper depths for recreation.
The project requires that the lake remain drained until the dam rehabilitation is completed which is expected by summer 2026 based on current schedule and funding. Hinckley Reservation remains open throughout the project but access to Hinckley Lake will is prohibited until the project is complete. Staging for the project is occurring at several locations throughout the park including Buzzard Roost. The dam rehabilitation is expected to cost approximately $9-10 million.
See the historical photos below for a glimpse at the original construction of the Hinckley Dam in the 1920s.
Project Type: Reservation Capital Project
Construction Timeline: Begin Fall 2023, complete by Summer 2026
Contact: Sean McDermott, Chief Planning & Design Officer, 216-635-3258 or [email protected]
Project Scope: Complete dam restoration, 150 ft spillway rehabilitation, lake dredging
Consulting Partner(s): Michael Baker International
Contracting Partner(s): Great Lakes Construction
