End of an Era? 20th Annual Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park

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Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

At Euclid Beach Park Now, we believe in the importance of preserving the history of Cleveland, Ohio's most famous and beloved amusement park. Join us on a journey through time as we explore the history and rides of this park. Discover how you can be a part of this mission.

Current Euclid Beach Park

The eastern portion of the original ninety acres the amusement park once occupied is a public park, Euclid Beach Park, Euclid Creek Reservation, Cleveland Metroparks.

Is this the end of an era? After 20 years of the Euclid Beach Park Now organization hosting Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park, their board voted to discontinue this annual event after this year. Julie was the only board member to vote for continuing this Cleveland tradition in the future. This event has taken place every year at what is now the Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Beach Park. This year's event, on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, took place exactly on the 56th anniversary of this now-defunct amusement park's closing on September 28, 1969.

Once the site of the famous Euclid Beach Amusement Park, Euclid Beach Park now features a 650’ beach with shaded picnic areas, a scenic observation pier and a reservable pavilion. Though it closed in 1969, signs of the amusement park including the shuffleboard area, remnants of the beachside fountain and concrete footers of the Flying Turns roller coaster are still visible.

There was a huge crowd attending this year's event!!! They enjoyed the amusement park displays, carnival food, and the special car show entitled "The Cars We Drove to Euclid Beach." With such a large, enthusiastic level of participation in 2025, we hope that some sort of amusement-park-related event will be created to replace this 20-year tradition in 2026.

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In recent years, the Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park event has shared this busy, final weekend of September with IngenuityFest. This year, Sights and Sounds celebrated its 20th year, and IngenuityFest also celebrated its "20th anniversary season of programming with a 100,000 square foot expansion of IngenuityLabs." Read about this gathering of Cleveland creatives in our blog post:

• Blog Date: October 7, 2025 - 20th Anniversary - IngenuityFest 2025: Forging The Future
  

 

Park memorabilia brought back happy memories of many Northeast Ohio amusement parks at this year's Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park:

• Cedar Point
• Chippewa Lake
• Euclid Beach Park
• Geauga Lake
• Luna Park
• Puritas Springs
• Sea World/Geauga Lake Wildwater Kingdom
• Shady Lake Park
• White City
• And more!

We worked with our sons, (Michael and Kevin), and friend Laura Moore at Kevin’s Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories display for the 20th Annual Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park. Stuart's mom also was able to enjoy seeing her grandson's display from the parks she visited.

Note that our following photos from the day include:

• The new, larger tent that our son, Kevin Smith, purchased to display his growing collection.

• The jumbo-sized card that Kevin created to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the opening of Euclid Beach Park and the 90th birthday of Laughing Sal.

• Maps of the historic amusement park, and of the new City of Cleveland Euclid Beach Arch Park.

• The flowers that are given as a welcome to female guests every year by Sandy Shoe, Euclid Beach Park shirt designer (formerly Jakewear Shirts).

• A paraglider zooming over the park.

• The recently relocated Euclid Beach Park Arch (learn details in Kevin's blog post: Euclid Beach Park Arch Relocation.)

• The beautiful lakefront sunset.

We recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the historic artifacts in the slides!!

 

 

Euclid Beach Park Now Board Members -- The Next Generation

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Euclid Beach Park Now has in recent years recruited the next generation of historic amusement park enthusiasts. The memories of these former Northeast Ohio family entertainment venues will continue through younger board members. Our son, Kevin Smith, is currently serving as vice president of the board, and owns one of the largest amusement park memorabilia collections in the area. Board member Troy Parsh has a large and growing collection of ride cars and parts, and other memorabilia from former parks. Learn more about their preservation work on their websites, and considering buying a MidwayMarketplace memento.

 

Kevin Smith's links:

• Kevin's Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories - KevinnNEOmemories.com

• Follow on Facebook: Kevin’s NE Ohio Amusement Memories - Facebook.com/KevinNEOMemories

• YouTube videos: Kevin's NE Ohio Amusement Memories playlist by Kevin Frederick Smith

Kevin's Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories

. . .
Hello! I’ve been fascinated by all of Northeast Ohio’s extensive amusement park history ever since I grew up hearing about my parents’ memories of Euclid Beach Park. As an adult, it has become a passion of mine to gather, preserve, and share such memories for the enjoyment of all present and future generations!

A few of the ways I actively pursue this passion include:

Collecting memorabilia and artifacts from defunct local & regional amusement parks and more to display at local commemorative events

Researching and/or visiting the former sites of vintage amusement parks and other memorable locations

Creating original artwork & poetry inspired by Euclid Beach Park and other historic places

Volunteering as the Vice President of Euclid Beach Park Now

...And I’m always coming up with more ideas!

I hope you enjoy the memories and history that I’ll be continuing to share here!

 

Troy Parsh's links:

• Amusement Preservation Museum - AmusementPreservationMuseum.com

• Follow on Facebook: Amusement Preservation Museum - Facebook.com/AmusementMuseum

• MidwayMarketplace - The official shop for the Amusement Preservation Museum - Etsy.com/Shop/MidwayMarketplace

Amusement Preservation Museum Preserving The Past For The Kids Of Tomorrow!

Our goal is to preserve and share history of traditions gone by. We host and attend multiple events every year with our largest event being our open house. Check our "upcoming events" page to see a full list of where you can view and interact with amusement park history! If you are not able to attend any events please send us an email and we can set up an appointment. With enough support, a Full time museum location will hopefully be on the horizon in the near future!

MIDWAY MARKETPLACE
Explore our online store for unique keepsakes of beloved park icons and coaster cars, all thoughtfully designed and 3D printed by Troy! Every purchase helps support the Amusement Preservation Museum project!

 

Kevin wrote a blog post about the 20th annual Sights and Sounds event which you should read. It includes a walkthrough video of his display and a list of the participants at the 2025 event:

• Reflections on the 20th Annual “Remembering The Sights & Sounds of Euclid Beach Park” event
  October 7, 2025, by Kevin F. Smith - Kevin's Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories

  Other exhibitors and vendors this year included:

  • The Amusement Preservation Museum
  • The Euclid Beach Boys’ Rocket Ship Car
  • The Collinwood Nottingham Historical Society
  • Cleveland Metroparks
  • WIXY1260Online
  • Weber’s Premium Custard & Ice Cream
  • Local artist Joan Of Art
  • Jakewear Shirts (Now a part of Daybreak Enterprises)
  • The City of Cleveland
  • Royal E Enterprise Food Truck

 

 

Nostalgia Reigns!

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One of the exhibits included a collection of Euclid Beach relics brought by AMP’s [Amusement Preservation Museum] Troy Parsh. A flatbed trailer displayed a #33 Dodgem car, a Laff in the Dark ride car, a Kiddie Rodeo horse, and a Flying Turns ticket chopper.

Additionally, Parsh, assisted by his parents Pattie and Rob, sold 3D-printed models of the Euclid Beach Arch.

Kevin Smith, founder of KNEOAM [Kevin’s Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories] and Euclid Beach Park Now vice president, showcased some of his personal favorites, including a bandstand podium once used by Vic Stuart’s Orchestra, an original section of the Arch’s base, and a rare photo slide of President John F. Kennedy’s and First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s September 1960 campaign stop at Euclid Beach Park.

Angelina Bair of Freshwater Cleveland wrote an excellent article about the event, that features the amusement park collections of Troy Parsh and Kevin Smith, and highlights others who helped make this day special. Some of the photos in this article were taken by Stuart:

• Nostalgia reigns at 20th annual 'Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park'
  Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by Angelina Bair - Freshwater Cleveland

 

 

History

Here is the best video we have found that not only tells the history of the park and the Sights and Sounds event, but also shows some of the current improvements created by the Cleveland Metroparks:

 

Every year, WIXY1260Online broadcasts their online radio show live from the Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park event. (They are an online "Oldies Station" that harks back to the days of their forefathers of WIXY 1260 AM.) Thanks to their participation, we are fortunate to have their YouTube videos from past Sight and Sounds! Since it has been decided that 2025 will be the last Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park, we thought it would be important to share the following videos which show some of the joyous times of the past 20 years. We saw our son, Kevin, and many of our friends that support the event in these videos:

 

 

 

In addition to the Euclid Beach Park related organizations already mentioned in this blog post, we want to also invite you to read about the history of the park on these websites:

• EUCLID BEACH PARK - Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Case Western Reserve University

• Euclid Beach Park & the Humphrey Glass Negative Collection - Cleveland Memory, Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University
  Be sure to see the nine Euclid Beach Web Exhibit Features items listed in the sub-navigation.

• Euclid Beach Park - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  Euclid Beach Park was an amusement park located on the southern shore of Lake Erie in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, which operated from 1895 to 1969.

• Euclid Beach Park: Amusements, Rides, and Restrictions By Michael Rotman & Jim Lanese - Center for Public History + Digital Humanities, Cleveland State University
  Look at "Stories by author Michael Rotman" to see more Euclid Beach park related articles.

• Euclid Beach Park (Amusement Park) - Clio

• Lost Amusements: Euclid Beach Park By Brian George - North Coast Narrative

• Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel - Cleveland History Center, Western Reserve Historical Society

 

 

Future - Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Beach Park Expansion, and Creation of a NEW Cleveland City Park!

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The memory of the former Euclid Beach amusement park has a bright future in the form of an enlarged Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Beach Park and a new City of Cleveland Euclid Beach Arch Park.

Learn about these future plans by reading the following 2023 press release and public presentation from the Cleveland City Council:

• Euclid Beach Neighborhood Plan Could Transform East Side Lakefront
  February 10, 2023, Cleveland City Council

  Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek and other neighborhood leaders responded positively to the newly created Euclid Beach Neighborhood Plan that calls for converting the site of the fabled former amusement park into an expansive lakefront greenspace hopefully overseen by Cleveland Metroparks.
  . . .
  “The residents of Euclid Beach Mobile Home Community must be treated fairly, and with dignity and respect. The current property owners – Western Reserve Land Conservancy – have done so since they acquired the property and I’m confident will continue to do so,” he [Mike Polensek] said.
  . . .
  “I look forward to working with the Bibb Administration, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Western Reserve Land Conservancy and all the housing organizations that are a part of this planning process to ensure the residents have as many housing opportunities as possible,” Polensek said.

• Please click on the following image to open the February 10, 2023, Euclid Beach Public Meeting Presentation PDF file. It is very interesting to read this 2023 report to compare it to what is happening now, and to see the proposed improvements for the future.

  
  Open February 10, 2023, Euclid Beach Public Meeting Presentation PDF file (11.2MB) in new browser window.

 

Expanded Euclid Beach Park

First, the former trailer park has been removed, and that area will become part of the current Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Beach Park. The Western Reserve Land Conservancy purchased the Euclid Beach Mobile Home Community for $5.8 million, and now will turn it over to the Cleveland Metroparks. During the 2025 Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park event, we talked to a friend of Laura Moore who volunteers with a group that helps keep our parks clean. She told us that the few existing buildings from the Euclid Beach amusement park, which closed in 1969, will be preserved as the area is made into a modern park. See photos and learn about the these remaining concrete cottages in Kevin's blog post:

• Surviving Euclid Beach Park Campground Structures
  March 12, 2025, by Kevin F. Smith - Kevin's Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories

  . . . 3 concrete cottages from the original Euclid Beach Park campground which still stand on the present-day trailer park property (currently under redevelopment). The cottages are not in good condition, but I’m cautiously optimistic that they could possibly be restored or at least preserved. I’ve heard it suggested that one or more of these buildings should eventually become a small museum about Euclid Beach Park’s history, and while I’m not currently aware of any official decisions or plans for the cottages, I personally think that a permanent historical display there would be wonderful!
  
  . . .
  An original ticket booth was recently removed from the property by the Cleveland Metroparks for preservation . . .

We think it is interesting that the Humphrey family, who owned Euclid Beach Park, invented a new type of concrete and pouring process that they used to build structures in the amusement park. The park is an important part of Cleveland's history.

Here is a News 5 Cleveland article which also includes several videos about the current status of the park after the Euclid Beach Mobile Home Community was purchased by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Be sure to watch the News 5 Cleveland video we embedded here that presents the most current status of the residents that used to live in the park:

• 'That's it for Euclid Beach': Former mobile home park residents settle into new lives
  The last tenants recently left the property on Cleveland's East Side, ending a process that started three years ago. Now the trailers are coming down.
  Posted 6:52 PM, Dec 23, 2024 and last updated 5:25 AM, Dec 24, 2024, By: Michelle Jarboe, News 5 Cleveland Reporter

 

Euclid Beach Arch Park

The new City of Cleveland Euclid Beach Arch Park is being created on the lot where a McDonalds once stood. When you looked at our photos from the Remembering the Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park event, you would have seen that the City of Cleveland had a booth displaying an artist's rendition of what the new park will look like.

Here is our photo from July 17, 2025, of several Euclid Beach Park Now board members who attended Euclid Beach Park Arch relocation watch party.

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Learn more in the following articles and be sure to see the videos in the articles:

• Euclid Beach Park Arch Relocation
  August 14, 2025, by Kevin F. Smith - Kevin's Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories
  Be sure to watch Kevin's video: "Timelapse: Euclid Beach Park Arch relocation (July 17, 2025)"

  . . . watch party was held on July 17, 2025, for the relocation of the historic Euclid Beach Park Arch! The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and excitement, along with just a bit of nervousness.
  . . .
  Noteworthy people in attendance included Mark Duluk (AIA – Manager, Division of Architecture and Site Development) and Former Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek (both of the City of Cleveland), and four major TV stations had reporters on site. A local artist known as Joan of Art brought a large model of the arch, as well as unique commemorative t-shirts for sale.

• Nostalgic renovation: Euclid Beach Arch moves down the street to new Collinwood location
  Monday, July 21, 2025, by Angelina Bair - Freshwater Cleveland

• Cleveland's historic Euclid Beach arch moved to a new location to undergo restoration
  The iconic arch is being relocated to a new home on Lakeshore Boulevard, where it will become the gateway to the new Euclid Beach Arch Park.
  Published: 10:18 AM EDT July 17, 2025, Updated: 4:34 PM EDT July 17, 2025. Author: Dave DeNatale, Anna Meyer, Natalie Clydesdale.
  Both Kevin and Julie can be seen in the video that is in the article.

  
  

  Cleveland's historic Euclid Beach arch moved to a new location to undergo restoration
  WKYC Channel 3
  . . . Jul 17, 2025
  A beloved piece of Cleveland history now has a new home.
  
  Crews moved the historic Euclid Beach arch from its current location on East 159th Street to a spot on Lakeshore Boulevard at the site of a former McDonald's. That area will eventually become the future Euclid Beach Arch Park.
  
  The arch, which has been damaged over the years, including from vehicles hitting it, will now be restored to its original appearance.
  
  “Today is a dream come true,” said Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek, whose Ward 8 includes the park area. “I've been working on it for a long, long time, and finally, the stars have lined up.”
  
  Recently, the arch was partially dislodged from its foundations after multiple drivers kept running into it.
  
  “Every other month it got popped,” said Polensek. “We know from the engineering reports, if we did not move it, if a truck was to hit it, a big truck, it wouldn't be here.”
  
  Red Chrosniak, who lives nearby, was one of dozens who patiently waited as the arch was transported approximately 150 feet.
  READ MORE: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/

• After years of collisions, iconic Euclid Beach Arch being moved
  June 25, 2025, by Grant Segall - The Land

• Euclid Beach Park Arch Relocation Ready
  March 25, 2025, By Ken Prendergast - NEOtrans Blog
  Even though this article is from months before the move, we wanted to include it here, since it shows the City of Cleveland's proposed site development plan for the Euclid Beach Arch Park.
  
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• See three videos from News 5 Cleveland that we could not embed in this blog post:
  ● June 10, 2025 - Cleveland is moving the Euclid Beach Park arch. Here's how.
  ● July 17, 2025 - WATCH: The Euclid Beach Arch has been moved (1-1/2 minutes)
  ● July 17, 2025 - WATCH: The Euclid Beach Arch has been moved (This is an over-10-minute-long video, so we queued up this video link to the point (time point: 2.46) where the arch is being moved.)

 

Maps: Come Back to Compare Today with the Future

Here is an image of a Google Map that we created while making this blog post, followed by a current, embedded Google map. Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Beach Park is scheduled to radically change, as the size of the park will increase in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how the former trailer park will be integrated into the public park. Please come back to this blog post in the coming years to see this map photo from Friday, October 24, 2025, and compare it with the future, updated reality (visible in the embedded Google map) of an improved park experience.

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Related Blog Posts

We always like to include in our blog posts a list of related posts that may be of interest to the readers of this blog post.

There are ten past blog posts tagged with "Euclid Beach Park" and six tagged with "Amusement Park" that we invite you to explore, but we want to bring special attention to the following about the 50th year celebration:

• Blog Date: October 21, 2019 - Celebrating 50 Years of Fond Memories of Euclid Beach Park

 

In recent years, IngenuityFest has shared the end-of-summer weekend with the Sights and Sounds event at Euclid Beach Park. We have written 22 Ingenuity Cleveland blog posts, so to learn more about this creative event of art and technology, we want to direct you to look at the following blog tags:

• "Ingenuity Cleveland" - We have been writing about Ingenuity events since 2012

• "Technology" - 202 past technology blog posts.

• "Art" - 104 past art blog posts.

 

Thank you for reading our blog post. You can learn about our travel journeys and the venues we explore in Cleveland and Akron at: sosAssociates.com/Blog