Cleveland’s Waterfront is open for the summer! 

The fourth annual Cuyahoga Connects (formerly the CWIOFB “Cleveland’s Waterfront is Open for Business” press conference and mixer), convened by Share the River in partnership with Ohio Marine Trades Association on behalf of the Cuyahoga River Safety Task Force (CRSTF) will be held May 22 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Collision Bend Brewing Co.

Last year’s event celebrated the designation of the lower Cuyahoga River as the nation’s Best Urban Kayaking Spot by USA Today 10Best. Cuyahoga Connects also serves as the “1 month away” kick-off for Share the River’s Sixth Annual Blazing Paddles Paddlefest on June 21-22, 2024.

The event will bring together maritime partners, law enforcement, waterfront industries and businesses, governmental agencies, and recreation stakeholders, to share their respective vision for a safe, accessible, and productive waterfront, the importance of clean water, and its impact on the regional economy.

Six waterfront stakeholders will each provide a short briefing, followed by a Q&A, followed by a casual connections happy hour by the river.

We have limited capacity so please RSVP today.

Agenda and speakers TBD (from 2023 event):

• LCDR Jeremy Maginot - Commanding Officer, US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Cleveland

• Mark Johnson - Ohio EPA

• Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells - CEO, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

• Brian Zimmerman - CEO, Cleveland Metroparks

• Eric Peace - VP, Lake Carriers' Association (also the board chair for Argonaut)

• Jim Ridge - Founder, Share the River

Heavy appetizers and Collision Bend Brewing tap beer will be complimentary. This is an invitation only event with registration via Constant Contact link sent to CRSTF members and waterfront stakeholders. An agenda and speaker list will be forthcoming. Should you or your organization be interested in attending, please e-mail us!

There are also challenges associated with increasing numbers of recreational paddlers and boaters who are drawn to Cleveland’s hard-working, scenic, and historic Cuyahoga River sharing the same narrow body of water (a Federal Navigation Channel) with commercial maritime operators. Cuyahoga Connects is held during the National Safe Boating Council’s National Safe Boating Week.

Media: Share the River celebrates the Cuyahoga River and summer with annual kick-off (Ideastream/Johnson)

For tips on recreational boater use of the Cuyahoga River go to our website:

Check out or blog post on last year’s CWIOFB presser and mixer by visiting http://sharetheriver.com/blog/2022/5/27/clevelands-waterfront-is-open-for-business-presser-amp-cuyahoga-river-safety-task-force-mixer