For generations, Cleveland Metroparks has served as the region’s natural escape. Known as the Emerald Necklace, the park system surrounds the city with forests, rivers, lakes, and trails that have shaped everyday life in Northeast Ohio.

In 2026, however, the Metroparks are entering one of the most transformative years in their history.

A wave of projects totaling roughly $120 million in investment is reshaping the system—from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to Lake Erie’s shoreline and the city’s regional trail network. The effort represents one of the largest coordinated upgrades to Cleveland’s outdoor infrastructure in decades.

The result could elevate the Emerald Necklace from a beloved local park system into a model for urban park development nationwide.

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