Mentor Beach Park erosion to be addressed

Revetment project to protect park, building

Mentor City Council this week approved an emergency project to shore up the shoreline along Mentor Beach Park.

Council on Oct. 16 approved awarding a revetment project to Norwalk-based Mark Haynes Construction, which had the lowest of six bids. Bids ranged from $368,616 to $597,000. The engineer’s estimate was $427,000.

“This goes to our losing battle we’re fighting with Lake Erie these days with the rise in the water levels,” City Manager Ken Filipiak said.

“We are forced this year to do emergency repairs to protect Mentor Beach Park.”

The project will install about 3,000 cubic yards of armor stone over 275 feet of shoreline at the park, at 7779 Lake Shore Blvd. It is in Mentor-on-the-Lake but owned by Mentor. The stone will be placed between the pavilion and the lake, and an additional 120 feet of stone will be added along the shore on the east side of the property.

Scheduled completion date is Feb. 1.

“Currently, erosion is getting

very close to the building,” Mentor Engineer Dave Swiger said. “Especially

the northwest corner of the building.”

The city has been working with the Lake County Port and Economic Development Authority on potentially leasing the pavilion for a restaurant. A few

interested parties inquired last month, Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said.

The revetment project will be paid for with general fund money. Council approved transferring

$50,000 from the Mentor Lagoons Marina infrastructure general fund over to the project.

The city has lost up to 6 acres of shoreline in the last dozen or so years. Earlier this year, Mentor was

awarded a $49,500 grant to study building barriers with downed trees. The report will be completed by the end of the year, Mentor Grants Coordinator Abe Bruckman said.

Traditional revetment

walls of stone and steel run $1,000 per lineal foot. Grants for such projects don’t exist, officials said.

The city spent $600,000 in 2015 to extend the revetment wall along the lagoons.