Thirty years ago, in September 1982, the City of Cleveland opened the Michael J. Zone Recreation Center in honor of the late Councilman Michael J. Zone. Now, after decades of planning, that same recreation center has been revitalized, providing the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood with a state-of-the-art, outdoor facility. 

The Redevelopment of the Zone Rec Center represented a unique opportunity to show national leadership in sustainable greenspace development as well as create an asset for the Northeast Ohio Region that adds to the attractiveness of urban communities. As part of the initial planning team, LAND studio engaged local landscape architect Jim McKnight to create a signature space that is more than just an active recreation park; it is a demonstration site for environmental stewardship. 
 
Completed in August, Zone Rec has delivered 22 green, active acres to the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood. The park has new play fields, baseball diamonds, a splash park, tennis courts, a dog park  and has been designed and built with sustainable features to manage all storm water runoff on site. There are ecological elements, including rain gardens, wetlands, and permaculture, which connect the natural environment to the recreation areas.  This was important because Zone Rec is located in Cleveland’s Eco Village, a nationally recognized demonstration project that showcases best practices in green building, transit-oriented design, urban agriculture, and societal inter-dependence. Additionally, local artist Stephen Manka integrated public art into all aspects of the site design to capture the neighborhood’s personality and complement the park’s sustainable design elements.
 
This urban greenspace is utilized by thousands of residents and visitors throughout the year and is easily accessed through public transportation, bike, foot, or by car. With its location on Lorain Avenue and West 65th Street, the Rec Center is contributing to the creation of Lorain Avenue as a gateway to the west from the scenic byway and West 25th Street.
 
The Zone Recreation Center boasts modern facilities, and has the honor of being part of a national model for healthy space, which is sustainable for many generations to come. The redevelopment of the site was a part of the community’s long work to create a neighborhood of choice, and raise the standard of quality for City neighborhoods. The community was a major player in the conception, design, and implementation of the project.