March 30, 2026
Last Friday we asked you what you’d want to see replace Burke Lakefront Airport. 330 of you answered. Here’s what Cleveland’s Westside actually wants:
The results:
If there’s one clear takeaway, it’s this: people want real access to the lakefront. And the top three answers back that up.
A public golf course? That one stirred things up. It landed fourth overall, but plenty of you pushed back in the comments. As one reader put it: “A golf course takes up too much space and can only be used by a few people.”
What’s been most eye-opening for us is the sheer scale of this land. We’re talking about 450 acres — roughly two miles wide. That’s not just another development project. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it’s one we can’t afford to get wrong.
The stakes are high.
The write-ins added even more color. Many of you called for restaurants woven into the outdoor space. “Pavilions for festivals” came up more than once. Others imagined something bigger — an aquarium, striking waterfront condos, full-scale dining along the lake. And one perspective we didn’t expect (but respect): keep it as an airport and invest in it. Cleveland is one of the few cities in the country with a functioning downtown airport.
One quick note: the city’s official survey is still open — and your vote there carries more weight than ours.
Here’s the Survey If You Missed It
What do you do with 450 acres of prime lakefront? Cleveland is finally being forced to answer that question.
