Port of Conneaut

a “steward of the Marina and lakefront area,” highlighting its multifaceted operations. The Port Authority leases land to businesses, collaborates with the city on development projects, and caters to diverse water-based recreational activities. From kayaking and parasailing to charter fishing for walleye and perch, the offerings are as varied as they are enticing. “The walleye and perch in Lake Erie are world-renowned, as is the steelhead fishing,” Kline shares, emphasizing the appeal of the local aquatic life. A unique aspect of the Conneaut Port Authority’s stewardship is the preservation and enhancement of the sandbar, a natural jetty that allows visitors to drive out, picnic, and birdwatch in a protected wetland area. “It’s also a protected wetland, so we are stewards of that protected wetland,” Kline notes, detailing efforts to combat invasive species and encourage the growth of native plants. This commitment to environmental conservation has earned the Marina a platinum designation from the Ohio Clean Marinas organization, highlighting its dedication to sustaining the area’s natural beauty. THE MASTER PLAN In a move poised to reshape its waterfront and bolster the community, the Conneaut Port Authority has laid the groundwork for a transformative future by developing a comprehensive master plan. Kline explains efforts to devise the master plan, revealing, “We used some grant money to work with a company to help us develop this master plan.”According to him, the plan targets the Marina area and port district’s evolution across four fundamental dimensions: environmental stewardship, economic vitality, life safety and access, and cultural and recreational enrichment. Terri Trisket,Administrative Manager at Conneaut Port Authority, specifies the partnerships that propelled the master plan into existence. “We partnered with Priority Engineering, a firm out of Florida, as well as ECT, with offices in Cleveland and Chicago,” she mentions. This collaboration has crystallized the Port Authority’s ambitions into nine project areas, each designed to tackle challenges and harness opportunities within the environmental, economic, 3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 05 PORT OF CONNEAUT