Jackson Street Pier Wins Ohio Redevelopment Award

The Jackson Street Pier received the 2026 Redevelopment Projects Award from the Ohio City/County Management Association on March 5, recognizing the transformation of a four-acre parking lot into one of Sandusky's most visited public spaces.

The site operated as a parking lot and ferry staging area from 1900 until 2019, when the city launched a public engagement process tied to its Bicentennial Vision comprehensive plan. The renovated pier opened in 2020.

"The Jackson Street Pier has become one of the most important investments this city has made in a generation," City Manager John Orzech said. "Tens of thousands of people come every year to enjoy the waterfront, attend events, and connect with their community."

The pier continues to operate as an active port with dock facilities for the Pelee Islander international ferry and the Goodtime I, making it Ohio's only non-airport international border crossing. The Mylander Pavilion hosts meetings, private events, and community gatherings with waterfront views.

Throughout the year, the pier hosts the Party at the Pier free concert series, Movies by the Bay, and IRONMAN triathlon events.

The award adds to recognition the pier has received since opening. In 2021, the project earned an Engineering Excellence Award from ACEC Ohio. In 2022, APA Ohio named it one of the Great Places in Ohio. The pier has won multiple categories in the Sandusky Register's Best of the Best reader poll, including Best Live Music Venue and Best Event Venue.