Cleveland Metroparks Unveils the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center, Now Open at E. 55th Street Marina

Cleveland Metroparks and partners today unveiled the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center, now open to the public at the E. 55th Street Marina. The Community Sailing Center is the first of its kind along Lake Erie in Ohio, providing unprecedented public access, sailing and related programming to the region through the major support of project partners including the Parker Hannifin Corporation, Madeleine Parker, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation and The Cleveland Foundry.

Project partners are welcoming members of the media and the public to the official dedication and Grand Opening of the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center on Tuesday, June 23 at 11 a.m.

“The Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center redefines access to our lakefront, inviting guests to take in sweeping Lake Erie sunsets, dine along the water year-round at The Galley, learn to sail, get out on the water and much more,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman. “This state-of-the-art facility will be a beacon for our community to connect with and explore our lakefront and is a testament to the power partnerships have to enhance and transform our region.”

The Community Sailing Center also features multi-purpose learning and rental spaces, indoor and outdoor community areas, and the Charlie Britton Sailing School at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Boathouse, offering public programs to bring the benefits of sailing to those who have historically faced economic barriers to participate in the sport. Despite being situated along a major river and a great lake, many Cleveland residents have never experienced direct water-based recreation as the vast majority of Lake Erie’s shoreline within Cuyahoga County is privately owned with no public access.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to have helped make this innovative community asset a reality, and to provide a space that will inspire and positively impact generations to come,” said Jenny Parmentier, Chairman and CEO of Parker Hannifin. “This investment also reflects our longstanding connection to sailing, which dates back to Pat Parker, our former company Chairman and son of our founder.”

“Giving back to the community was important to him,” reflected Madeleine Parker about her late husband Patrick Parker, who passed in 2005. Patrick Parker’s legacy of sailing, innovation and philanthropy moved Mrs. Parker to give the lead gift in his name. “He would be happy to have his name on this sailing center.”

The Community Sailing Center builds on collective efforts to improve access and recreation in Cleveland’s east side communities, including the CHEERS project, enhancements to Gordon Park South and the upcoming Mandel Community Trail, with the portion spanning from E. 9th to E. 55th streets scheduled to open later this summer.

“Lake Erie is one of our region’s greatest assets, and the opening of the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center represents a significant step in strengthening connections and expanding opportunities along Cleveland’s lakefront,” said Dr. Jehuda Reinharz, President and CEO of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. “Together, we are helping break down physical, economic and social barriers to create greater access to the waterfront and enhance quality of life across our region, especially for neighborhoods that have historically been disconnected from the lakefront.”

The Sailing Center will host year-round Sailing STEM programming for schools and community partnership organizations under the operation of The Cleveland Foundry, including Youth Learn-to-Sail, Youth Learn-to-Race, Interscholastic Racing, Adult Basic Series, Community Dinghy Race Nights, Family Sailing Basics and more. The Foundry will also offer Ohio Boating Safety and Education Classes and, through swimming partnerships, Water Safety Certifications lessons to local youth. By expanding access to sailing instruction and hands-on educational experiences, the Foundry creates a progressive pathway of learning opportunities that safely build knowledge and access to the sport of sailing for our region. Since 2016, The Foundry has partnered with Cleveland Metroparks to expand its sailing operations, reducing socio-economic barriers to participation and improving public access to both the sport and lakefront.

“The Foundry’s mission is to make rowing and sailing programs accessible, remove financial and experiential barriers and build a water safe community that can fully embrace our great lakefront,” said Foundry Executive Director Gina Trebilcock. “The Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center, inspired by Patrick S. Parker, former Chairman and CEO of Parker Hannifin, who was an avid sailor and Cleveland philanthropist, has generously provided our community with direct lakefront access, allowing further reach to schools, neighborhoods and community centers. Direct lakefront access opens the potential to make Cleveland and Lake Erie an exceptional venue where waterfront enjoyment, sailing and boating can benefit all.”

The Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center will serve as a year-round community anchor and lakefront destination for community events, education, marina operations, recreation, retail and dining at The Galley. The Galley is a full-service, year-round restaurant offering Lake Erie waterfront dining with sweeping sunset views and fresh, seasonal, locally sourced menu of shareables, handhelds, entrees and in-house smoked BBQ favorites. The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor dining on the first level, as well as the open-air Washkewicz Rooftop Terrace featuring self-seating that allows guests to bring food and drinks purchased from The Galley. 

Construction of the $18.5 million Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center, performed by Whiting Turner and Cleveland Metroparks Site and Trades Divisions, was approximately 70% funded through grants, partnerships and private donations, including through leadership gifts from Parker Hannifin Corporation, Madeleine Parker, Pam and Don Washkewicz, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation, the Britton Fund, and through other significant gifts including those from Cleveland Foundation, Mike and Gina Trebilcock, The Foundry, The Dedinsky Family Charitable Fund, other private funders and state and local grants.

Visit clevelandmetroparks.com for more information on the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center and The Galley.

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