Jackson Street Pier Receives “Great Places” Award
Friday, October 14, 2022 (Sandusky, Ohio) – The Jackson Street Pier has been named one of Ohio’s Great Places by the Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), the organization announced this week. The biennial awards program honors outstanding physical spaces that planners have made permanent through careful planning and unbridled imagination in Ohio.
“We are so excited that the Jackson Street Pier was named one of Ohio’s Great Places by APA Ohio,” said City Manager Eric Wobser. “Our goal with the pier project was not only to turn a waterfront parking lot into a beautiful public space, but also
to ensure it was regularly programmed with activities for our residents and visitors. It’s been such a joy to see how many Sanduskians have embraced the new pier as a point of pride for our city and how many have enjoyed all the concerts and other events that we host there throughout the year.”
APA Ohio President Rachel Ray stated, “2022 designees were selected from submissions for great commercial districts, public places or spaces, and neighborhoods from communities large and small from across the state. The entries represented beautiful designs, inspiring stories, and community-led transformations that honor their unique histories.”
APA Ohio cited the Jackson Street Pier’s scenic views, daily recreational opportunities, dynamic festivals, and year-round entertainment in its decision to include it in the 2022 awards. They also noted how the pier continues to serve as a ferry terminal and its unique characteristic of being home to Ohio’s only international border crossing.
“City Architecture is thrilled and honored to have collaborated with the City of Sandusky, its residents and people that truly love the pier,” said Alex Pesta, Principal at City Architecture, who led the design team that worked on the pier project. “Jackson Street Pier’s transformation from a dilapidated parking lot to an award-winning venue for all is remarkable. When you attend one of the events, you see the city’s diversity – part of me thinks ‘these people might not even know the other exists if this space wasn’t here’ – to design that space is incredibly humbling.”
In addition to the Jackson Street Pier, APA Ohio also recognized Downtown Willoughby and the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve as Great Places in Ohio. To learn more about the awards and APA Ohio visit, www.OhioPlanning.org.
View the Pier's Nomination Submission
