As Published in the Gazette News by Gabriel McVey on 17 Jul 2020,
ASHTABULA HARBOR – The Lift Bridge Community Association is partnering with the Ashtabula County Civic Development Corporation to fund and construct a new gazebo near the intersection of Bridge Street and Morton Drive that will allow for public and private events to be held and create a more appealing space near the Ashtabula riverfront.
LBCA Chair Jennifer Luhta said adding the gazebo to the area will further enhance visitors’ experience of the riverfront, add to Bridge Street’s appeal and make better use of a visually striking area. “We have this beautiful water and it’s underutilized for all intents and purposes,” Luhta said. “And it’s such a lovely natural gift to our area, how could we enjoy it more and how could we help others to enjoy it more?”
LBCA has been working since 2008 to make improvements to the Bridge Street area, culminating recently in Bridge Street winning the America’s Main Streets contest in 2018. The planned gazebo, which will cover a preexisting concrete pad near the transient dock extension on the Ashtabula River, will further add to the experience for local visitors as well as tourists.
“We wanted it to be an impromptu and formal gathering space for picnics or photo opportunities, etc.,” Luhta said. “Just kind of like a neighborhood hub so to speak. So, this is for the community and community driven.”
Funding for the gazebo will come from the Ashtabula County CDC as part of their Campaign 2020 projects that provide Ashtabula County with projects enhancing public spaces. The space being used for the gazebo is owned by the Ashtabula Port Authority, which has granted LBCA the use of it for the project. “It’s a nice partnership we have with the city port authority,” Luhta said.
Luhta said LBCA plans to offer free movies and concerts at the gazebo on Thursday afternoons or evenings once social-distancing regulations allow. Residents may also be able to rent the space for parties, weddings and the like. “We could really get into all sorts of fun, right?” Luhta said.
The gazebo will dovetail with ongoing efforts the LBCA has put on since its inception to help drive pedestrian traffic on Bridge Street. Luhta said that despite the pandemic, most Bridge Street businesses are seeing near-record customer traffic and that she hoped the gazebo project will add to that success.
In 2008, Ashtabula’s historic lift bridge was scheduled to close for repairs. As a response to the temporary closure of Bridge Street, the Lift Bridge Community Association was formed. LBCA established traffic-generating events like fairs, festivals and open houses to draw people to Bridge Street businesses despite disruptive construction and the timeliness of the recession. The nonprofit organization has channeled community support into real and tangible improvements to the historic district for over a decade, promoting and developing the harbor as a major tourist, recreation and entertainment district.
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