Congresswoman Shontel Brown joined Cleveland Metroparks officials at the E. 72nd Lakefront Reservation to announce more than $1 million in new federal funding for the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy, known as the CHEERS project, aimed at expanding public access to Cleveland’s lakefront.
The project is designed to transform a section of the city’s eastern shoreline by expanding parkland along Lake Erie and creating a protected cove with natural shoreline habitat. Plans also include an island featuring walking trails and open lawns, as well as new opportunities for shoreline fishing and additional green space shielded from Interstate 90 by a vegetated berm.
Brown secured $1,092,000 in Community Project Funding for Cleveland Metroparks in appropriations legislation signed into law earlier this year after requesting the funding in 2025.
“I am proud to announce that we have secured over $1 million in federal funds for Cleveland Metroparks and the CHEERS project,” Brown said. “CHEERS will transform our Lakefront and create incredible new recreation activities for Clevelanders.”
Brown said the project would help expand access to Lake Erie, stabilize the shoreline and support revitalization efforts on Cleveland’s East Side.
The announcement comes as Brown also backed House passage of a broader Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package covering Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water, and Interior spending bills. The legislation rejects several domestic spending cuts proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration, including reductions targeting NASA.
Brown said the bill fully rejects proposed cuts that could have jeopardized more than 500 jobs at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
“This funding bill is a win for Northeast Ohio and a loss for Trump,” Brown said. “Because of our work, Trump’s attack on NASA Glenn suffered a failure to launch.”
The legislation also includes more than $6 million for seven Northeast Ohio projects secured by Brown’s office. Alongside the CHEERS funding, the package provides support for sewer and water infrastructure upgrades, public safety radio improvements for Cleveland first responders, trauma recovery services for crime victims, technology upgrades for the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, and workforce training programs for individuals returning from incarceration.
The appropriations legislation must still pass the Senate before heading to the president’s desk for final approval.
