Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

      The overall success of The Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach Park rises above or falls below our expectations largely due to the weather on that last Sunday in September when the event is scheduled. Over the years we have noted other activities occurring here in Cleveland have a much more minor impact on our attendance. This year both a Brown’s pre-season game and a Guardian game took place the same day of our event and, honestly, minimally impacted our attendance. Cleveland is definitely a sports town, but it is also Euclid Beach town with so many families with rooted memories from visits or stories shared by parents and grandparents of visits to the long closed amusement park. As for the weather it was a cloudy overcast day with occasional extremely light rain sprinkles. The estimated attendance was somewhere in the range of two to three thousand people with the attendance at “The Cars We Drove to Euclid Beach Car Show” at approximately 400 cars. Although the weather definitely did not cooperate in a big way this year with a bright sunny mid-summer day, the entire Euclid Beach Park Now Board of Directors were extremely pleased with the turnout. I amazed all of us to see the parking lot fill with cars so quickly and equally gratifying to see so many attendees dressed in their “Euclid Beach” garb strolling the grounds celebrating the memory of Cleveland’s most beloved amusement park.

     EBPN’s Board of Directors expends a tremendous amount of time and energy toward planning the event. Sights and Sounds wound not be possible without the financial support we receive from the community and of course our grant funders each year. The grant we received this year from Neighborhood Connections and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture covered a significant portion of the event’s expenses. Their funding underwrote event essentials as well as the rental of authentic artifacts from Euclid Beach Park. Fun house mirrors from the Surprise House and Laughing Sal herself were a tremendously popular addition to the displays in the picnic pavilion which is transformed into “Memory Lane” for the event. A ride car similar in style to those of the Antique Car Ride at Euclid Beach placed on a remnant of the concrete track that still exists was a popular photo opportunity. Community financial supporters this year included Kramer Printing for printed information material, and Great Scott Tavern who sponsored the car show. The continued growth and success of the car show is due in a large part to Board Members Debbie and Mike Peppard’s marketing efforts and on-site management the day of our event. They tirelessly pass out flyers all summer long at car shows they attend and manage the orderly parking of attendees aided by fellow car enthusiasts who volunteer to help. Boy Scouts from Troup 143 were on-site early again, before anyone arrived, to help set up all of the informational signs, tables, and tents. Later they came back after everyone left to tear everything back down. Sadly the troop leader informed us this year would be the last year they would be able to participate at our event. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all of their years of support and share how dearly they will be missed.

     The on-going partnerships with the Cleveland Metroparks, WIXY1260Online, JakeWear, and Weber’s Premium Ice Cream have contributed immeasurably to the Success of Sights and Sounds. Strolling around the grounds at the event there are plenty of photo reminders of Euclid Beach during its’ heyday. What is missing is the whirring of the rides, music of the band organs, and Sal’s laugh in the back ground. WIXY 1260’s live on-line broadcast of all those familiar songs we listened to driving to and from the Park breathes life into all those memories a walk on the grounds generates.

     Sandy Shoe, JakeWear’s talented owner and artist, never disappoints with her yearly original T-shirt creation highlighting each year’s celebration theme. This year we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Thriller roller coaster and as always her design did not disappoint. Popcorn balls and Frozen Whip are an important part of most people’s memories and having Weber’s on-site serving their rendition of the Park’s favorite frozen treat rounds out the experience. B.A. Sweeties, who have the license to produce the original Humphrey Popcorn Products, supplied the popcorn balls and generously provided several hundred at no charge in support of EBPN. There are those who took time out of their busy schedules to set up informational tables and displays. This year the list included Kevin Smith (Kevin’s NE Ohio Amusement Memories) with his collection of Euclid Beach Park and Northern Ohio park memorabilia, Troy Parsh (Amusement Preservation Museum) with his amusement park ride cars, and memorabilia, Steve Hodgkiss with his Puritas Springs Park display, the Collinwood Nottingham Historical Society, the Collinwood Disabled Veterans, and the Metroparks representative who discussed lakefront trails. A special thank you to Larry and Marilyn Reichert, Jon and Maggie Seman, Addy Quinn, and Drew Hocevar for providing additional staff for EBPN’s sale and information booths. After a long absence, Marv Axlerod was back this year selling photographic images of Cleveland landmarks, Euclid Beach Park, and other assorted amusement parks. Denny and Karen Lane staffed the Geauga Lake informational booth even though they were all a “bit under the weather’. A heartfelt thanks from EBPN to the Euclid Beach Boys and Joe Tomaro for having the Euclid Beach Boys Rocket Ship Car available for rides, their Thriller Car as a photo opportunity. Laughing Sal and some of their other memorabilia on-site.

     As for myself, my favorite component of the event was the walking tours which I led around the grounds. Sharing your personal memories and hearing family stories makes all of the time and effort that goes into the event so worthwhile. Thanks to everyone who made it out to the Park and I hope to see all of you next year. Our date next year is September 29thand the theme we are considering for next year is celebrating the rich history of the company picnics which contributed so much to Euclid Beach’s success.

John Frato.