Cleveland Proposes Renaming Waterfront Area the “Gulf of Cleveland”

September 20, 2026

Cleveland City Council is considering an emergency resolution to officially designate a specific portion of Lake Erie as the “Gulf of Cleveland.” Introduced by Council Member Harsh via File No. 1047-2026, the proposal seeks to rename the water area starting from the easternmost and westernmost points of the city's shoreline and extending two miles into the lake.

What's in the file

According to Resolution No. 1047-2026, the measure authorizes the following:

The renaming of the area of Lake Erie from the easternmost and westernmost points of its shoreline and two miles into the lake as the “Gulf of Cleveland” now and forever.
City of Cleveland departments to use the new name and include it on all city-generated maps and documents.
The Clerk of Council to notify state and federal authorities of the change.
The Clerk of Council to inform global map-making corporations, specifically naming Apple and ABC, of the new designation via registered mail.

The resolution includes several "WHEREAS" clauses providing a rationale for the measure. The document states that recent federal executive orders have renamed the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario, and that the City of Cleveland should engage in its own branding to avoid being left behind in a "deluge of government renamings." The resolution also notes that while the City's designation only binds the City of Cleveland, it serves as an emergency measure for the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, or safety.

Who may be affected

The record names the following groups and entities:

City of Cleveland departments, which are instructed to use the new name on maps and documents.
The Clerk of Council, who is tasked with notifying authorities and map-making corporations.
State and federal authorities, who are to be notified of the change.
Global map-making corporations, specifically Apple and ABC, who are to be notified of the city's expectation regarding map updates.

Status and timeline

September 11, 2026: Resolution 1047-2026 was introduced.
September 14, 2026: The resolution was listed as "Agenda Ready."

As an emergency measure, if the resolution receives an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all elected members of Council, it would take effect immediately upon adoption and approval by the Mayor.

Residents can verify the details of this proposal by reviewing the official record for File No. 1047-2026.

Key facts

File Number: 1047-2026
Introduced Date: 2026-09-11
Distance into lake: two miles

Source record

File: 1047-2026
Type: Emergency Resolution
Status: Agenda Ready
Committee: City Council
Introduced: September 10, 2026

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