STOP THE REMOVAL OF THE SHAKER LAKES!
The Northeast Ohio Sewer District (NEORSD) a public utility, is planning to permanently remove Horseshoe Lake.
• Over 1,000 large trees will be cut down
• A 170-year-old ecosystem will be destroyed
• 26 acres of Parkland will be bulldozed
• AND NEORSD IS PLANNING TO REMOVE LOWER LAKE, TOO!
JOIN US TO HELP SAVE THE PARKLANDS.
Horseshoe Park Project Delayed
Big news: Major construction at Horseshoe Park has been delayed until Spring 2027 ...more
News
May 09, 2026•1 min read
Why Local Context and Informed Decisions Matter
Any proposal to alter or remove lakes must be based on local science, public input, and context. ...more
Informed Info
May 05, 2026•3 min read
Technical Reports
Want to dig into the technical ODNR reports and the January 2026 NEORSD plan for Horseshoe Lake? ...more
Informed Info
March 23, 2026•1 min read
Tell the Mayors and Councils of Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights and Cleveland to pause and reconsider the removal of the lakes and Parklands
The Shaker Lakes
Historic Parklands, including over 1000 mature trees,
are under threat. Understand what's going on.
Why Historic Landscape Review Matters
The Shaker Lakes Parklands are part of a connected historic landscape that includes lakes, waterways, trails, bridges, wooded corridors, and public park spaces used and valued for generations.
Because federal approvals are involved in the current project, portions of the Parklands are undergoing review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Residents are asking for careful evaluation of how proposed changes could affect the broader historic landscape and whether alternatives and long-term impacts have been fully considered.
Read More → Understanding Historic Landscape Review
Why Residents Are Asking to See the Full Analysis
Large public projects are typically supported by engineering studies, hydrology modeling, environmental review, and long-term planning documents.
Residents across Cleveland, Shaker Heights, and Cleveland Heights are asking for clear public access to the technical information being used to guide decisions about the future of the Shaker Lakes Parklands. Transparent public information helps communities better understand complex projects and participate more meaningfully in long-term stewardship decisions.
Read More → Technical Reports
The Shaker Lakes are a Nationally Recognized Cultural Landscape
The Shaker Lakes were federally recognized as part of the historic North Union Shaker Site in 1974 — decades before the current restoration project existed.
The National Register nomination did not treat the Lakes as isolated infrastructure. It described the dams, lakes, Doan Brook corridor, mill sites, archeological resources, and surrounding open space as an interconnected historic landscape tied to the North Union Shaker community and “The Valley of God’s Pleasure.”
This history matters because it establishes that the Shaker Lakes are not simply vacant land awaiting redesign. They are part of a nationally recognized cultural landscape with documented historical, environmental, and community significance.
Read more → Learn about the 1974 and 1984 National Historic Designations
What Is Section 106 — And Why Does It Matter?
Federal law requires agencies to evaluate how federally connected projects may affect historic places.
At the Shaker Lakes, that review process is active because the parklands are part of federally recognized historic landscapes, including the North Union Shaker Site and the Shaker Village Historic District.
Section 106 review is not simply paperwork. It is the process intended to ensure that historic resources are properly identified, studied, and considered before irreversible changes occur.
Learn how the federal review process works and why residents continue to call for transparency and careful review.
Read More → Understanding Section 106
Understanding Flood Risk and Public Safety
Flood risk and dam safety are serious issues that deserve careful engineering review and transparent public discussion. Residents supporting additional review are not advocating a “do nothing” approach.
The central questions are:
• how the existing structures perform under different storm conditions
• what realistic risk scenarios look like
• how various alternatives would affect upstream and downstream conditions
• what combination of repair, modification, maintenance, ecological restoration, and long-term management best serves the public interest
Public understanding is strongest when conclusions are supported by accessible hydrologic analysis, engineering evaluations, and clear explanation of assumptions and trade-offs.
Large public infrastructure decisions are most effective when they are grounded in:
• site-specific science
• transparent modeling
• long-term stewardship
• informed public review
Our Position
We stand to defend the Shaker Lakes protecting this historic, federally protected, and culturally vital landscape, preserving what makes it home, and ensuring its stewardship for future generations.
News & Update
The gratefulness for these lakes are highlighted by the letters we receive
Connect & Help
Get information and learn about ways to connect with people in our communities that are truly grateful for these lakes.
What's to See!
The stories are timeless of gratitude, connection, and the way these waters draw us closer to nature and to one another. You can walk the All People’s Trail, wander through changing forests, watch turtles sunning on logs, geese guiding their goslings, and birds filling the air with life. The Shaker Lakes -Water. Wildlife. Community.
Bird
Turtles
Flowers
History of Water
Threes
Walking Trails
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