City Planners take a (Virtual Reality) Tour of Euclid’s Waterfront

A screen capture from the virtual reality tour of Phase II of the Euclid Waterfront Project.

On Friday, October 27th nearly fifty planning professionals toured the City of Euclid as part of a conference workshop hosted by the Cleveland chapter of the American Planning Association.

Director Jonathan Holody led a bus of professionals on the sold-out mobile session through the City’s industrial corridor past the future home of Amazon and development projects currently underway including the expansion at Bluestone Business Park and the Lincoln Electric Welding Technology Center.  The tour group made its way through Downtown Euclid to the Henn Mansion in Sims Park where Mayor Holzheimer Gail welcomed the group, many of whom had not been to the lakefront park.

The group toured the existing multi-modal trails in Sims Park, snapped photographs at Euclid’s Instagram-style sign, and enjoyed the views of Lake Erie from the Joseph Farrell Memorial Fishing Pier. The highlight of the tour was a virtual reality headset loaded with a computer-generated simulation of Phase II of the Euclid Waterfront Improvement project, provided by Euclid’s consultants SmithGroupJJR. The simulation allowed attendees to experience the sensation of walking on the future three-quarter mile trail and cobble beaches that will hug a stabilized, vegetated shoreline. It was the first time the City used this technology to enhance understanding and appreciation for the intensive, exciting construction project which is anticipated to break ground in spring 2018.

The workshop was one of many offered by the City of Euclid since the Euclid Waterfront Improvements Plan was adopted by City Council in 2009. Earlier sessions were geared towards Euclid residents, potential funders, media outlets, environmental groups and other community stakeholders.

Please refer to the City’s website at www.cityofeuclid.com for updates on the project and announcements regarding future public meetings.