Easements Proposed for Big Creek Storage Tunnel Project at Emery and Estabrook Parks
The City of Cleveland is considering an emergency ordinance, Ord. No. 688-2026, to grant the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) easement rights at Emery Park and Estabrook Park. These easements are necessary for the construction and maintenance of the Big Creek Storage Tunnel (BCT) project, a major infrastructure initiative designed to reduce the amount of combined sewage overflow released into local waterways and Lake Erie.
## What's in the file
The proposed ordinance authorizes the Director of Parks and Recreation to sell permanent and temporary easements to the NEORSD for a total appraised value of $276,800. These easements will allow the district to access sites for the BCT project, which is part of the larger $3 billion "Project Clean Lake" aimed at meeting Clean Water Act standards 688-2026 Legislative Summary.
The project details include:
* Emery Park: NEORSD will construct a tunnel shaft (BCT-6) approximately 70 feet underground at the north end of the park. While construction may involve contractors occupying portions of the park's greenspace, the city notes that basketball courts, playgrounds, and parking lots will not be affected. Acoustical fencing will be installed to reduce noise. Following the BCT construction, a separate project called BCSO-3 will require additional permanent easements for maintenance and inspection 688-2026 Legislative Summary 688-2026- BCT Location Map Project Overview.
* Estabrook Park: A tunnel shaft (BCT-3) will be built approximately 50 feet underground at the northwest corner of the park. This work will require the temporary relocation of the path leading to the playground and ballfield. The city plans to replace all disturbed trees and restore the path upon project completion 688-2026 Legislative Summary 688-2026- BCT Location Map Project Overview.
The BCT project involves constructing roughly four miles of tunnel, 20 feet in diameter, beneath Cleveland, Linndale, and Brooklyn. Once complete, the system is expected to reduce annual sewage overflows into Big Creek and its tributaries by 550 million gallons 688-2026 Legislative Summary.
## Who may be affected
The ordinance names the following groups and areas:
* Neighborhoods/Wards: Ward 11 (Council Member Nikki Hudson) and Ward 13 (Councilman Brian Kazy) 688-2026 Legislative Summary.
* Departments: Department of Parks and Recreation and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District 688-2026 Legislative Summary.
* Locations: Emery Park and Estabrook Park 688-2026 Legislative Summary.
## Status and timeline
The ordinance was introduced on May 28, 2026, and is currently listed as "Agenda Ready." It has been referred to the Municipal Services and Properties Committee.
Residents can verify these details and track the progress of the legislation through the official City of Cleveland legislative record.
Source record
- File
- 688-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Agenda Ready
- Committee
- Municipal Services and Properties Committee
- Introduced
- May 27, 2026