Cleveland's ParkScore, Cavs Blow Game 1, Memorial Day Weekend Events: CLE Daily

🌩️ 59°; Thunderstorm in the morning

🏙️ A New Way To Travel: Clevelanders can book a tour with The Golf Cart Girl to visit breweries, catch a ride to game day, or simply avoid parking fees.

🌹 May Flowers: Here are 10 ways to enjoy the last week of May.

🏀 Cavs Scores: Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks 

ICYMI: Combining elements of art deco, traditional and contemporary design,25 Brandon Court in Moreland Hills is as grand as it looks.

Today's Trivia

What East Side thoroughfare, home to Cleveland’s millionaires’ row, did Mark Twain refer to as “One of the finest streets in America?”

Cleveland slips in ParkScore Index despite strong access and investment.

News | By Jaden Stambolia

Cleveland slipped out of the top 30 in the 2026 Park Score Index, moving to No. 31 on the list. The annual ParkScore Index ranks park systems in the top 100 most populated cities in the United States based on park access, equity, acreage, investment and amenities. 

Ohio Ties: While Cleveland ranked 31st, Cincinnati is Ohio's only top 5 city on the index. But the Midwest is well represented, with Minneapolis and St. Paul at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Chicago ranked No. 10.

• Washington, D.C., topped the ranking. 

Cleveland invests more in its park system than the national average, and those investments paid off slightly as the city's park access improved this year.

• ParkScore credits the small increase to the expansion at the Euclid Creek Greenway. 

• Money Maker: Joining the Park Score Index, the Trust for Public Land released an economic analysis showing that every $1 invested into a city park system delivers $3 in benefits. 

More Access: 88% of Cleveland's population lives within a 10 minute walk of a park, which is 12% higher than the national average of 76%.

• While the city has better access to its park system than most of the country, Cleveland lags behind in park acreage, with a median park size of 3.9 acres, compared with the national median of 5.4 acres. 

Staying Cool: Cleveland ranks second nationally in splashpads and other water features. Overall, the city's park system ranks above average for park amenities.

Cavs blow a 22-point lead to lose Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Sports | By Dennis Manoloff

The Cavs looked poised to steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden before everything unraveled in stunning fashion, blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in an overtime loss to the Knicks. 

What should have been a statement road win instead became one of the franchise’s most painful playoff collapses. Here are three takeaways:

• A Brutal Collapse: Cleveland controlled most of the game, built a double-digit cushion entering the fourth quarter and still somehow let it slip away. A 22-point lead disappearing in the conference finals is the kind of loss that lingers.
  

• Three quarters Wasted: After surviving an emotional Knicks opening punch, the Cavs settled in and looked like the sharper team. Kenny Atkinson pushed the right buttons, Cleveland dominated the third quarter and the game appeared fully under control before the meltdown began.
  

• Jalen Brunson's Late Takeover: Once the Knicks found life, Brunson completely dictated the fourth quarter and overtime. Cleveland had no answer defensively, and by the time the game reached OT, the momentum had fully shifted to New York.

Talk of the Town

Cleveland approved an emergency ordinance to spend $1.1 million to construct, install and repair speed tables across the city. Speedtables are used to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

Entertainment taxes on small capacity live entertainment venues that hold up to 750 people have been eliminated in the City of Cleveland. Council amended a 2017 ordinance that only exempted venues that held up to 150 people. The ordinance does not exempt strip clubs.

• Councilman Krish Harsh, who sponsored the legislation, said in a tweet on April 22, before it passed, that "Cleveland is the Rock & Roll capital of the World & we have less than a dozen local venues. We can show them some love & it's a blip in the budget."

Cleveland's Flock Safety contract extension is heading up for debate in city council. Mayor Justin Bibb is now seeking council approval after drawing criticism for going around and using the city's Board of Control to approve an $850,000 contract extension for ShotSpotter in April. Signal Cleveland reported that in April, the Mayor's administration argued they did not need council approval for the contract because of the city's code on software licenses. 

After the release of the Netflix documentary, The Crash, Mackenzie Shirilla's father, Steve Shirilla, was placed on administrative leave from Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland, reports Cleveland 19 News. Mackenzie was found guilty of murder and aggravated vehicular homicide for the July 2022 deaths of boyfriend Dominic Russo and their friend Davion Flanagan.

The Cleveland Browns are selling 3% of the team to Arctos Partners, a private equity firm. Arctos also owns shares of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. NBC News estimates that the sale could net around $300 million dollars.

Bruce Springsteen, Cleveland Guardians, Tremont Greek Festival and more.

Things to Do | By Jeff Niesel

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Land of Hopes & Dreams American Tour at Rocket Arena | Music | May 22

Enraged at the current administration's interpretation of the United States as an imperialist country, Bruce Springsteen has enlisted his E Street backing band to hit the road with him on a tour with a purpose. Fellow rabble rouser, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, might even join him for the festivities. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Rocket Arena. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

Tremont Greek Festival at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church | Festival | May 22-25

Held in Tremont every Memorial Day weekend at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the annual Greek Festival features Greek music, Greek food, Greek drink and even antiques (Greek or otherwise). Visitors will find a mouth-watering assortment of homemade Greek specialties like pastitsio, moussaka (Greek-style lasagna), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and lamb shanks. But the crowd favorite is always the gyro — and they don't get much better than they are here. Hours are noon to midnight through Sunday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Monday. 2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland, facebook.com/TremontGreekFest/ 

The Birth of Punk in NEO at Akron Civic Theatre | Arts & Culture | May 23

Local publisher and musician Thomas Mulready presents this lecture and concert chronicling the birth of punk rock in Northeast Ohio. Regional punk acts such as the Bizarros, the Mirrors, Patty No!, Vanity Crash/Queue Up and Massive Hotdog Recall are slated to perform. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. 182 S. Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com

Parker Barrow at Beachland Tavern | Music | May 24

Megan Kane and Dylan Turner lead this Nashville-based Southern rock band that comes to the Beachland Tavern as part of a tour that supports their new album, Hold the Mash. 15711 Waterloo Road, 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com

Guardians vs. Washington Nationals at Progressive Field | Sports | May 25

The Washington Nationals come to Progressive Field for the one-and-only time this regular season. The three-game series kicks off with tonight's game that features a blanket giveaway. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m. 2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians 

For our full list of things to do.

Yesterday's Trivia Answer

Thomas Edison’s middle name came from what family friend, a ship captain who became one of Cleveland’s most important industrialists – and whose namesake grandson once owned the Indians? Alva Bradley

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question.

From the Editor

Live music will be alive and well in Cleveland this weekend. It's exciting to see an array of acts across venues of all sizes — from Bruce Springsteen at Rocket Arena to a small Columbus-based band called Smug Brothers at Little Rose Tavern. We've always provided space for the global names, but asserting our city as a music capital starts with creating a stage for smaller, up-and-coming acts, and I believe we do that well here in Cleveland.

Enjoy the long weekend! - Julia Lombardo, Associate Editor