Harbor Lakefront opens Memorial Day weekend

By Mimi Vanderhaven

What are the five most highly anticipated words of all time?

If you guessed “The beach is now open,” you hit the proverbial nail on the head.

After a miserable summer of limited access due to Covid last year, Lake Metroparks Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park reopens Memorial Day Weekend.

And the majestic lakeside haven has earned accolades from a national magazine, Coastal Living, being named the best beach in Ohio on its annual “The Best Beaches in America” list.

The editors chose the 21-acre beach park for, “its beautiful views that include the photogenic West Breakwater Light,” noting that the beachfront, “slopes gently along a waterfront that’s perfect for paddle-boarding, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and boating.”

Mimi recently caught up with her dear friend Seth Begeman, who, as Chief of Outdoor Education, oversees the park, for some insider’s ideas on what makes the beach so outstanding.

“Well, first of all, we’re family-friendly and accessible, with grills, benches, picnic tables, a playground and a new gazebo shelter that features picnic tables and gorgeous sunrise and sunset views,” he says. “The T-shaped, beach level Harbor View Boardwalk helps people with mobility issues easily access the beach.”

Another reason is the breathtaking sugar-like sand, which is groomed daily by his staff to keep rocks and debris out, rendering it a spa-like substance to wiggle your toes in or throw a plush towel on.

The park also provides some of the best lake swimming in the area, with its calm waters protected by a nearby break wall, and designated lap lanes along the north end of the swimming zone for fitness swimmers.

Lake Metroparks Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park beach is open year-round, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Concessions and rentals of kayaks and paddleboards open Memorial Day Weekend. The park is non-smoking and alcohol is not allowed. Lake Metroparks provides more than 3.5 million visitors with countless recreational and educational experiences at diverse facilities. Visit LakeMetroparks.com for more information. You can click on a live-action harbor cam to see what real-time conditions look like.