Coastal park to honor Clemons

MARBLEHEAD  — Last week, the village of Marblehead learned it will finally have a project years in the making: its first coastal park.

On Friday, the village announced it has secured the final funding needed for the village to acquire the former Lifeboat Station subdivision on East Main Street, which will cost a total of $1.5 million. The 5-acre property will become Marblehead's first coastal park and is to be named after local Coast Guard member Lucien M. Clemons.

In 1875, Lucien M. Clemons, along with his brothers Ai and Hubbard, was awarded the first Gold Lifesaving Medal issued by the United States government for maritime rescue on the Great Lakes after saving two men from a schooner wreck.

In 1876, Lucien was appointed the first keeper of the Marblehead Life Saving Station, one of seven original lifesaving stations on the Great Lakes. He served as the keeper for more than two decades.

"The village believes Lucien M. Clemons Park will forever be a testament to Marblehead's rich history of maritime rescue operations." the news release from Marblehead Councilman John Starcher reads.

Rear Adm. J. E. Ryan, commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, said Clemons played a prominent role in local and Coast Guard history.

"We believe naming the public park after Clemons will strengthen awareness and memory of the Coast Guard's long, respected history on the Great Lakes," Ryan said.

The park property, which is 2 acres of open greenspace and 3 acres of submerged land, was once owned by the Clemons family.

The inlet will provide Marblehead residents, vacationers and tourists access for non-motorized boats to Lake Erie, prime fishing and birding opportunities, and a place to relax and enjoy the scenery — including views of South Bass Island and Kelleys Island.

Starcher's news release said the village will work to restore pockets of natural vegetation to attract local wildlife and migratory bird populations. Future plans call for public parking and restrooms across East Main Street on land already owned by the village.

In the past several years, the village worked with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to secure funding for the project.

Mayor Jacqueline Bird said the village was selected for more than $800,000 in funding through the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. There were also additional grants from Clean Ohio for about $600,000, Bird said, cutting the village's share of the park's $1.5 million price tag to about $100,000.

"Obtaining this grant is making a dream become a reality," Bird said. "This is a good day for the village of Marblehead."

"The Marblehead community and the entire peninsula have been behind this project from the start, and we are so thankful for all the support and so happy for what this means for our area," she said.

jdenton@gannett.com

419-734-7506

Twitter: @jessicadentonNH