Summer is coming, and the changes around Greater Cleveland are noticeable. Trees are verdant and lush, wildflowers are blooming, and those pesky little dandelions are popping up on everyone’s grass. The shift in Cleveland’s natural environment is humbling, and there is no better place to experience it than in the Cleveland Metroparks. This summer, however, you should take the time to explore some of the hidden gems in the Metroparks… you never know what splendid stories you may uncover.

Once upon a time, this pretty piece of property belonged to philanthropist and industrialist William J. Gordon.
Detroit Publishing Company Collection/Wikimedia Commons
Gordon, like many Cleveland Industrialists, left a chunk of his property to the City of Cleveland. He asked that it remain free and open to the public, and his dreams were first realized in 1893 when the park officially opened.
This 122-acre park has always been coveted by Clevelanders for its biodiversity.
ADiamondFellFromTheSky/Flickr
One could easily experience Lake Erie's shore, take a dreamy hike through the forest, and unwind in fragrant gardens - all without leaving Gordon Park. It once featured a grand bathhouse, but the park began to decline after World War II.
The site once featured an aquarium; however, construction of Interstate 90 split the park's lakeshore and forested regions and made accessing the aquarium a challenge.
Cleveland Metroparks Website
It closed in 1986, and the animals went to live in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Perhaps, however, it was a glimpse into the park's future...
After years of neglect, the region joined the Cleveland Metroparks in 2013.
GoogleMaps/Tim Borkowski

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The Cleveland City Council approved a 99-year lease, meaning that this charming little park will remain a part of Lakefront Reservation for years to come.
Todd Kravos/Flickr
Today, this park is a scenic place to launch a boat on Lake Erie.
Cleveland Metroparks Website
And the array of wildlife you experience is truly humbling.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
So pack a picnic lunch and head out to soak up some sun in a place where history and beauty interact in a truly magical way.
GoogleMaps/Adam K
Look no further than the underrated Gordon Park, a lakefront retreat that's well worth visiting this summer.

This lovely little park is overflowing with history and beauty and it’s too close to home to not pay it a visit. Which park in the Cleveland Metroparks is your favorite to visit in the summer? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share photos from your outdoor adventures with us on our Ohio Nature Lovers Facebook group or by tagging us on Instagram using #onlyincleveland!

For an alternative glimpse into this park’s history, check out these haunting photos of Gordon Park’s abandoned aquarium.

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