VERMILION, OHIO — May 18, 2025
Residents and visitors gathered on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the official dedication of Vermilion’s newly revitalized Main Street Beach and Park, a project more than a decade in the making. Framed by sunshine and a Lake Erie breeze, the event featured heartfelt speeches, patriotic music, and recognition of the community effort that turned a vision into a lasting legacy.
Hosted by Mayor Jim Forthofer, the ceremony marked the completion of a $4 million revitalization project, with 87% funded through private donations and grants. “This is truly the people’s park,” Forthofer said during his remarks. “It was funded, designed, and built by the people of Vermilion.”
The event included remarks from former Mayor Eileen Bulan, who began the initiative in 2010. She credited early donors Larry and Karen Bettcher and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for helping launch the campaign. “Everyone in the community was willing to help in some way,” Bulan said.
Andy McDowell of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy recounted the organization’s involvement since 2006, calling the park one of their “flagship projects.” He praised Vermilion for uniting around lakefront preservation at a time when public access to Lake Erie is shrinking.
Erie County Commissioner Stephen Shoffner echoed that theme, noting that less than 17% of Lake Erie’s shoreline remains accessible to the public. “You’ve hit a home run that will secure this access for generations,” Shoffner said.
Donor Larry Bettcher shared personal stories of visiting the beach with his grandfather as a child and led fundraising efforts alongside his wife, Karen. “Every single person I asked said yes,” Bettcher said. “And that’s what made this park possible.”
The revitalized park now features:
- ADA-accessible walkways and scenic overlooks
- A comfort station with restrooms and showers
- An observation deck and drop-off plaza
- Native plantings, sandstone details, and community-donated features such as colorful Adirondack chairs and picnic tables
The dedication concluded with the raising of a 60-foot American flag—donated by VFW Holland-Bond Post 7576—as the Joe Price Brass Ensemble of Lorain County performed the National Anthem.
News Channel 5 was present to document the event and interview community members, including Mayor Forthofer.
As Mayor Forthofer reminded the crowd, the project was never about government alone. “If you counted on government to do this, you’d be waiting a long time,” he said. “Forthofer emphasized Vermilion’s volunteer spirit, saying projects like this succeed because “people step up in Vermilion… if they see something worthwhile doing, they just do it.”
