In 2023, when the Cleveland Metroparks purchased a barge, best known as the former floating restaurant Hornblower’s, officials said it represented a “one-of-a-kind opportunity” that would someday expand the park system’s programming and amenities. 

To date, the Metroparks, which primarily relies on tax dollars to fund its massive operations, has sunk $2.8 million into the barge, according to a review of board meeting minutes from the last three years. The park system plans to open a portion of the 8,500-square-foot vessel to limited public use by year’s end.

But the project is just in phase 1 and it is unclear how much the barge, built in 1892 and upgraded over the years, will cost to fully make over and maintain. The Metroparks is tapping at least $940,000 in corporate donations to help cover the current planned construction costs. Neither Metroparks officials nor the park system’s board members ever publicly stated a budget for turning the barge into their vision of a dynamic education and community space. 

Jacqueline Gerling, the Metroparks’ director of communications, did not directly respond to the question about the project’s projected total budget. She said “its final product will be reflective of the fundraising effort, maximizing outside funding.”

Referred to as Barge 225 or STEAMship by the park system, the vessel was docked for decades next to Burke Lakefront Airport. It now floats offshore at Wildwood Marina at Euclid Creek Reservation and will “serve east side communities and strengthen connections to the lakefront,” Gerling said. 

“Work on Barge 225 is actively progressing, with a spring/summer construction schedule focused on establishing the necessary infrastructure, including utility work and primary interior updates,” Gerling wrote. “Our goal is to make the barge accessible in the near term with light programming beginning in 2026, while continuing to plan for a future phase of enhancements that will further build out the full vision for the space.” 

Mooring the barge proved challenging 

Owning a barge has come with challenges, board meeting minutes show. The Metroparks, for instance, has had to increase the work related to mooring the barge. This includes driving pilings into the water and later making emergency repairs to the mooring and vessel, which can get battered by the high winds and rough waters of Lake Erie, even within the breakwall. 

“A long process to get to where we are today,” Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman said during a February board meeting, referring to upcoming construction on the project, including installing permanent mooring for the barge. 

Board meeting minutes provide a window into these and other costs.

You can review a more detailed breakdown of the costs, the work and the contractors in the spreadsheet below. Signal Cleveland created it to track the ongoing barge project based on board votes during public meetings.

The Metroparks says the spreadsheet largely matches its internal tally, which tracks the project more closely in real time and has the current cost at $2,807,418, a few thousands less than our calculation. Signal will continue to update the spreadsheet as project changes are approved at future board meetings. 

Metroparks wants to create ‘floating nature-based education center’

The barge, which was most recently used as office space for the software company Lean Dog, has large interior spaces and an open-air top deck, which could be configured in many ways. In addition to creating learning and exhibition spaces, the Metroparks envisions using the vessel for special events, though few details have been discussed publicly. 

The Metroparks website describes the barge as prioritizing STEM-based educational programming with “classroom spaces, community and special event spaces, and a wet lab.” 

It also says the first phase of construction will include “repairs and minor alterations to the first-floor interior.” 

At its March board meeting, park officials displayed a sketch of the phase one plan, though it didn’t offer much detail. 

While officials are not saying much about the barge project now, they have plenty to brag about this summer, including some new trails, the re-opening of the former zoo’s Rainforest, now rebranded the Primate Forest, and the opening of a large sailing center at the East 55th Street Marina.