Great Parks Begins Revitalization of Sharon Woods Harbor

Great Parks has started site preparation for construction of the revitalized Sharon Woods Harbor, with a new transformational design that will invite guests for adventure by the lakeshore, on the water and in reimagined recreation areas at the harbor. The new harbor will include an educational amphitheater, play areas integrated with the natural surroundings of the harbor, a new boathouse, a refreshed snack bar, expanded parking and restrooms.

The Sharon Woods Harbor Revitalization is a separate project from the soon to be completed Sharon Lake Improvement Project. Sharon Lake’s new boardwalks, accessible kayak launch, wetlands and the Sharon Lake Trail are all planned to open by the fourth week of March. Great Parks originally planned to open the lake in late February. However, when the lake froze in late January and into February, Great Parks was forced to delay installation of the lake’s new floating amenities and other final site improvements. Great Parks will share more information in the coming days about the formal reopening of the lake.

“At Sharon Woods Harbor, we’ve created a design that highlights the lake’s beauty and opens dramatic new recreation opportunities on and near the water,” said Todd Palmeter, Great Parks CEO. “The harbor will become the type of outstanding park experience people want from their Great Parks. When added to the new destination playground we opened in 2024, and improvements to the lake, our guests will be getting a new park at Sharon Woods.” 

In late May, Great Parks will open a temporary boathouse at the Sharon Woods Lakeside Lodge on the east side of the lake, while the permanent boathouse at Sharon Woods Harbor remains closed during construction.

Great Parks designed the new Sharon Woods Harbor with the goals of improving access and recreational opportunities around the lake while minimizing impact on the local ecosystem. This project was envisioned by the community and stakeholders through development of the Park and Facility Master Plans for Great Parks, which call for a refreshed harbor in Sharon Woods. Construction on the redesigned harbor area is scheduled to begin in fall 2026, with the new harbor planned to open in spring 2028.

The plan for reconstruction of the harbor required the selective removal of a small number of trees to improve access from Kemper Road and improve parking capacity for Great Parks’ second most visited park. Once complete, the entire harbor area will feature newly planted trees and native plantings, including considerably more trees than the amount removed.

After the Sharon Lake Trail opens with the reopening of Sharon Lake, the trail will remain fully open through October 2026. Because the trail passes through the harbor, reconstruction of the harbor will require Great Parks to close a small, approximately 0.18-mile section of the 2.6-mile trail from November 2026 through the project’s completion. In the fall of 2026, Great Parks will also temporarily close the Kemper Road entrance to Sharon Woods because of construction, although the Lebanon Road entrance to the park will remain open. Information about temporary closures in the parks is always available at GreatParks.org.

Great Parks will invest more than $17 million into the Sharon Woods Harbor Revitalization, including design and construction. Great Parks secured private funding from the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation with the remaining funds sourced from Great Parks capital project levy funds supported by voters for master plan priorities. 

(Note: Valid Motor Vehicle Permits are required for every vehicle entering Sharon Woods. Information about purchasing MVPs, and accessing free or discounted MVPs, is available at greatparks.org.)