The Secret Garden Near Cleveland You’re Guaranteed To Love
By Nikki Rhoades|Updated on April 19, 2024(Originally published May 28, 2019)
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
When many think of Lake Erie, they immediately think of one famously polluted river that feeds into it. They question the lake’s water quality and the health of its ecosystems, but few immediately consider the recent restorations and cleaning efforts that have gone into the lake in recent years. Some of its most magnificent parks now include stunning and clean beaches, but there is one in particular that you have to see to believe. Open your mind and prepare for a romantic excursion on Lake Erie’s shore, because we’re heading over to the lakefront rose garden:
You'll find solace at Lakeview Park, the Lorain County Metro Parks’ first and best lakeside park.
Lakeview Park got its start in the early 1900s when the City of Lorain set out to establish a lakefront property for public use. The Lorain County Metro Parks leased a portion of the park in 2006, and it has enjoyed extensive renovations ever since.
The park's campus spans 20 acres, and both the East and West portions of the park have much to offer.
Amazingly, this park bears few scars from the slings and arrows of its past. In 1924, a tornado ripped through the park (and much of the surrounding city) and took eight lives with it. Over the years, the bathhouse has been rebuilt twice, but it still utilizes its historic concrete arched columns.
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However, East Beach is the more aromatic portion of the park.
As you approach the charming East Beach, you'll be greeted by a fresh floral scent and a vibrant sea of color. What could this stunning space possibly be hiding?
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This fragrance can be attributed to the collection of approximately 2,500 roses located just next to the lake’s shore.
In 2005, this historic site was renovated and restored, somehow making it lovelier than ever before. Many flowers have been planted in the garden since its inception to commemorate those with ties to the garden or community, meaning this site is near and dear to many hearts and is absolutely humbling to see.
Amazingly, the roses are just one of the many incredible features in this park.
The features are divided between the two beaches, so it feels balanced and anything but overwhelming. You'll find a beach house, a sunset terrace, a playground, overlooks, and more amidst the beautiful landscape of this park.
One of the best features of this lakefront park, however, is its sunsets.
Breathtaking and vivid, Lake Erie sunsets are always stunning. However, Lakeview Park's campus offers many lovely places where you can cozy up with your crew and watch the sun melt into the horizon.
You're sure to enjoy a memorable visit whether you're enjoying a casual picnic, working on a suntan, lawn bowling, or enjoying a romantic stroll in the rose garden.
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You'll find that Lakeview Park's historic rose garden is a little slice of heaven on the shore of Lake Erie.
