The fairport harbor transient marina project is being sponsored by the lake development authority (LDA) and the village of fairport harbor

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of Interior), through the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act program (CFDA 15.622), awarded $1,490,187.44 to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on September 1, 2025, for the Fairport Harbor Transient Marina Project. This Project Grant supports Phase 1 development of boating infrastructure improvements in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, including the construction of 32 transient boat slips designed to accommodate recreational vessels 26 feet or greater, replacement of aging vertical steel sheet pile bulkhead walls, fuel dock installation, and upgraded utilities. The project is part of a larger $14.5 million master plan to enhance the existing marina facility, which currently serves approximately 300,000 annual visitors to the region's lakefront, riverfront, and historic downtown areas.

The award, with a completion date of September 1, 2028, funds critical maritime infrastructure supporting the region's fishing and recreational boating economy. The transient slip facility and associated amenities will provide improved docking capabilities and public access to Lake Erie's premier walleye and perch fishing waters. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Lake Development Authority and the Village of Fairport Harbor, will implement this three-year project with required non-federal cost-sharing, addressing longstanding capacity and facility limitations at the existing marina while supporting broader economic development objectives in the Fairport Harbor community.

The current fairport harbor marina is just west of fairport harbor lakefront park, a popular beach setting that provides swimming access at one of the premier beaches in northeast ohio. IT also includes 14 older floating slips that are removed every winter. A two-lane launch ramp provides fishing boat access to the region, well known for excellent walleye and perch fishing across the country. Limited parking and rudimentary restrooms complete the existing marina. Fairport harbor is unique in having both a lakefront and riverfront, a historic downtown storefront district, and a beach which attracts approximately 300,000 visitors per year. The overall tentative master plan for the fairport harbor transient marina consists of improvement to the existing boat launch, added trailer parking, 86 slip facility with upland restrooms and marina store, and a new 1,000 lineal foot breakwater to create a harbor of refuge resulting in $14.5 million total. This project is proposed in 3 phases.per meetings between odnr parks watercraft and LDA, since the completion of the additional phases is not guaranteed, this project is not sized and or designed for future expansion. If awarded this grant, future phases will include upgrades to accommodate need.as a portion of the overall marina project and phase 1, LDA is submitting 32 transient slips with amenities and the adjacent vertical steel sheet pile wall replacement as eligible improvements within the guidelines of the boater s infrastructure grant (big) program at a total of $3,120,909 for this portion. The project will rebuild the ramp and replace the old slips with 32 transient slips. The boating infrastructure grant will be supporting $1,117,640.58 of the $3,120.909 total project costs of the 32 transient slips, fuel dock, utilities and bulkhead wall.phase 1 will also include two-million dollars of funding from ohio department of natural resources (odnr) for their research vessel and funding through the ohio state capital budget for the upgraded boat launch at $350,000. The existing pier on the east side of the basin is replaced with a more robust structure wide enough for service vehicles to access a new linear dock for odnr ships of 55-65 feet in length plus additional small craft. The pier also includes a 2-ton crane for loading supplies on the odnr ships. There are 4 parking stalls for odnr staff located near the pier with limited access along the pedestrian walk that also serves as the cart route. By maintaining the boat launch in its existing orientation, more slips can be placed in the marina basin. Upgrades to the launch and dredging the access toward the east breakwater will provide a usable facility in low water periods. Although some of the same contractors may be used, this is considered a separate project from what is being applied for under this application. This paragraph is intended to be informative only.if completed, phases 2 and 3 will include an additional 26 and 28 slips, an extended parking lot, signage, and POP-up shops. The parking lot will maintain the same counts at 38 stalls for the vehicle lot and 93 for trailers. Parking areas will have signage to assist visitors in finding their preferred facility. Used steel shipping containers will be converted to POP-up stores as a low-cost alternative to small retail venues in active waterfronts. They provide a low cost, portable structure that can provide a multitude of services with limited capital investment in lieu of building a permanent structure. Appropriate utility planning can provide a versatile pad for placing and moving containers on site. The POP-up stores can be installed when needed and the utilities and site should be readied during the project construction. Utilities in that area can also serve other uses such as temporary event spaces, light shows and fairs.