Irishtown Bend, situated on the west bank of Cleveland's Cuyahoga River, was historically a neighborhood established by Irish immigrants in the 1830s. By the mid-20th century, the area had deteriorated into a shantytown with poor living conditions, earning it the nickname "open sewer of the city." Most of the original Irish residents had moved out by 1900, and the neighborhood was later inhabited by Eastern European immigrants. By the 1950s, the area had been largely abandoned and demolished. In the 1980s, archaeological excavations revealed artifacts from the 19th-century Irish community, leading to the designation of the Irishtown Bend Archeological District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. In recent years, efforts have been underway to stabilize the hillside and transform the area into a public park. A $65 million stabilization project by the Port of Cleveland is currently underway, with a $10.8 million federal grant supporting park development. The planned 25-acre Irishtown Bend Park will feature amenities such as an amphitheater, overlook plazas, picnic areas, play areas, and a boardwalk, along with the final segment of the Lake Link Trail. The park aims to honor the history of Irish immigrants in Cleveland, with a dedicated five-acre section highlighting the neighborhood's origins from the 1850s. The project is a collaboration among Cleveland Metroparks, LAND studio, and other local organizations. The transformation of Irishtown Bend is part of a broader initiative to reconnect Cleveland residents with the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie waterfrontsÂ