As many local enthusiasts are already aware, a watch party was held on July 17, 2025, for the relocation of the historic Euclid Beach Park Arch! The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and excitement, along with just a bit of nervousness.
Many local drivers honked their horns in support as they passed by on Lakeshore Blvd., with some even pulling over briefly to ask more about the status of the relocation as final preparations were being made by workers.
Please be sure to watch the timelapse & actual-speed videos at the bottom of this post!
Noteworthy people in attendance included Mark Duluk (AIA – Manager, Division of Architecture and Site Development) and Former Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek (both of the City of Cleveland), and four major TV stations had reporters on site. A local artist known as Joan of Art brought a large model of the arch, as well as unique commemorative t-shirts for sale. (Please consider stopping by to see her work at the Waterloo Arts Fest on Saturday, September 13th, 2025!)
In preparation for the move, the arch’s decorative exterior features and iconic lettering had been disassembled, and its structure covered with protective wooden boards. Wooden beams were used to stabilize the arch, and long straps were fastened around and through the structure to secure it to the crane above. A banner declaring “Fragile: Handle With Care” offered reassurance that the arch was in good hands with the engineers and workers completing the project.
Once the arch was fully separated from the original foundation, the move only took approximately 8 minutes to complete. Many spectators, including myself, had arrived 4 or more hours earlier, but in my opinion, the delays were definitely worth it to ensure that the arch could be lifted and moved as safely as possible. As one person described it, the transfer of the arch between its old and new foundations was done quite gracefully, and the crowd reacted with great relief and applause.
In addition to TV broadcasts, online articles of the event were published by both WKYC Studios and Freshwater Cleveland:
