Public input process includes open houses, online survey, and community engagement
Infinite Erie, Mayor Daria S. Devlin, and community leaders today announced the launch of One Bayfront, a community-driven effort focused on the future of Erie’s waterfront.
Led by Infinite Erie in partnership with the City of Erie and WSP, One Bayfront will bring together residents, businesses, property owners, community organizations and local leaders to help shape a shared vision for one of the region’s most important assets. The effort, which will shape the Bayfront for generations, will combine public input, technical expertise, market analysis and stakeholder engagement to create a blueprint that can help guide future investment and decision-making along the waterfront.
With residents at the center of it, public engagement begins immediately with a community survey and a series of public meetings designed to gather feedback from residents throughout the process.
The first public open house will take place June 25, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the Intermodal Transportation Center.
Additional engagement opportunities are planned throughout the year:
- June 25: Community feedback on vision, goals and priorities
- Early Fall: Review and evaluation of potential concepts and approaches
- Late Fall: Presentation of refined concepts informed by community feedback
- Winter: Presentation of the final blueprint and implementation roadmap
In addition to formal meetings, feedback will be gathered through community events, surveys, focus groups, and direct outreach efforts throughout the summer and fall.
The community survey can be accessed at infiniteerie.com/bayfront.
“The bayfront is where Erie began, and it remains central to our future,” said Mayor Daria Devlin. “To ensure it’s a vibrant place for all residents, it must reflect the needs, vision, and hopes of our community, while capturing the resilient, creative spirit that makes Erie so special.
“The waterfront will always belong to the people of Erie, and I encourage everyone to take part in this thoughtful, community-driven process.” Devlin said.
One Bayfront comes at a time of significant investment and activity along Erie’s waterfront. The process will examine opportunities to strengthen public access, support economic growth, enhance quality of life, and build on the waterfront’s role as a defining feature of the community.
“Our waterfront is one of our region’s greatest assets,” said Kim Thomas, executive director of Infinite Erie. “The waterfront is changing. Investment is happening. New opportunities are emerging. One Bayfront is an opportunity to bring residents, stakeholders and community leaders together to help shape what comes next.”
The effort is being funded through private support secured by Infinite Erie.
Infinite Erie has engaged WSP, a planning, engineering and advisory firm with extensive experience leading waterfront and redevelopment projects across North America. The project team also includes Perkins Eastman and Econsult Solutions.
Together, the team will evaluate existing conditions, review previous studies, gather public input, and identify opportunities that reflect community priorities while remaining grounded in market realities and implementation considerations.
Selected waterfront experience includes Canalside in Buffalo, New York; Imagine East Bank in Nashville, Tennessee; and The Wharf in Washington, D.C.
Additional information, project updates, and engagement opportunities can be found at InfiniteErie.com/bayfront.
