Metroparks of the Toledo Area 2013 Annual Report Your Clean, Safe, Natural Metroparks To Preserve and Protect the Natural Heritage of Each of the Metroparks offers picnic areas, play fields and playgrounds. Northwest Ohio They have trails for hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing. And they preserve important natural areas. Each Metropark also offers its own unique characteristics and experiences. The Board of Park Commissioners Governing Body of Metroparks of the Toledo Area Scott J. Savage, President Fritz Byers, Vice President Lera L. Doneghy, Vice President Board members appointed by Judge Jack R. Puffenberger, Lucas County Probate Court Stephen Madewell, Executive Director David Zenk, Deputy Director Parks Mission Wildwood Preserve, Sylvania Township he mission of Metroparks of the Oak Openings Preserve, Swanton Greenway Trails Toledo Area is to conserve the region’s Secor, Berkey In partnership with local communities T Side Cut, Maumee and institutions. natural resources by creating, developing, Farnsworth, Waterville University/Parks Trail improving, protecting, and promoting clean, Bend View, Waterville Wabash Cannonball Trail Attractions safe, and natural parks and open spaces The Canal Experience, Providence Providence, Providence Township Towpath Trail for the benefit, enjoyment, education, and The Manor House, Wildwood Swan Creek Preserve, Toledo Oregon Parks Trail general welfare of the public. Ellen Biddle Shipman Garden, Wildwood Pearson, Oregon Chessie Circle Trail (in development) Blue Creek Conservation Area, National Center for Nature Photography, Whitehouse (portions open) Future Parks Secor Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Ft. Miamis Middlegrounds, downtown Toledo Toledo Botanical Garden National Historic Site, Maumee Howard Farms, Jerusalem Township Maumee River Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Keil Farm, Toledo Windows on Wildlife (in six parks) (affiliated organization) Oak Openings Greenway The Lathrop House (partnership) 2 Creating A Roadmap To The Future etroparks is looking far into the An Inventory Of Opportunities; Emerging Parks M future and seeing green. A Foundation For The Future Metroparks has not opened a new park URS was challenged to create a 20-year for several decades. In 2013, the park system launched vision plan for the park system. This a comprehensive planning process vision would identify natural resource At the time this comprehensive planning to establish a vision for the next two attributes and amenities of the park process began in 2013, two major park decades. This effort involved creating district and the county within the projects were already moving forward: an inventory of existing conditions and context of national, state and regional the Middlegrounds in downtown identifying opportunities and priorities significance. The process involved Toledo and Howard Farms in Jerusalem for protecting high quality natural areas taking inventory of the opportunities to Township. Both had significant grant and streamways across the region. connect existing parks and open spaces funding and associated completion By doing so, we can envision ways to to communities and population centers, schedules. create open space corridors or trails to and to recommend preservation connect existing and new parks. strategies for significant natural areas MKSK was retained to review and and greenway corridors. evaluate existing preliminary plans for The comprehensive planning also other non-developed parklands, and to included developing a collection of create conceptual plans for new parks conceptual plans to: Business Plan For Sustainability, Service in selected study areas. • Guide the completion of new park MKSK’s project study sites included: developments over the next 10 years Leon Younger and PROS Consulting the Kiel Farm property in Toledo, Fallen • Create a corresponding business was contracted to review existing Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis and sustainability plan to ensure the park operations, develop fundamental in Maumee, Blue Creek Conservation balance and stability of Metroparks principles for operational excellence Area in Whitehouse, the Swan Creek over that period and beyond and create standards to insure a Corridor in Toledo and sections of the sustainable future for the Metroparks. Oak Openings Corridor in western Lucas Three consulting firms were selected This included evaluation of long- County. based on their specific areas of range financial planning, relationships expertise. Each firm was charged between operational overhead and The results of this comprehensive look with creating an independent plan available capital improvement funds, at our community and park district will representing one section of a three- service delivery, educational and be essential in developing the park part, comprehensive set. recreational programs, as well as district’s annual capital improvement marketing and communications. The budget and projected capital resulting outcome would ensure improvement roster for the next five to a commitment to maintaining best 10 years. In short, it will be a roadmap management practices for all areas of for the future of your Metroparks. park operations. 3 Connecting With In partnership with WGTE Family, “Click with Nature” continued to grow in The Community its fourth year, using photography to ne of the park district’s primary connect youth with nature. Ogoals is to provide opportunities for the people of Lucas County – and The 2013 Autumn Adventure walking especially children – to connect with program saw a 25 percent increase Metroparks through quality, cost effec- in participants who completed the tive experiences. program. Programming Highlights Canoeing and kayaking continued to grow in popularity in 2013, and the Holidays in the Manor House – program department expanded paddling Metroparks most popular annual options for the coming year. program – had more than 16,000 visitors in attendance during the week-long Customer Service event in December. The event brings more than 100 volunteers who lend The White Oak Campground opened their collections to decorate the house. at Oak Openings Preserve late in the Related Farmhouse Holiday programs season, offering a way to connect also grew in popularity in its second with families. In just a few months, the year; 309 people attended programs campground had 1,974 visitors and provided during the four-day program generated more than $6,000 in revenue. series. Shelter rentals and Manor House More than 10,000 people, many of them rentals increased in revenue and students from local schools, boarded capacity in 2013, generating $282,660 the canal boat at Providence Metropark and serving more than 81,500 people. for an immersive program about Ohio history. Connecting with the Future Financial sustainability is paramount Nature Camp reached 83 percent of to Metroparks success, and a robust capacity in 2013 over the 12 week program provides opportunities for the season and included expanded community to contribute to that success opportunities for children through After through planned giving, grants and School All Stars and the National Youth membership opportunities. Sports Program. Memberships Metroparks reached more than 7,500 students in Lucas County schools in More than 78 percent of Metroparks 2013. Memberships were renewed, while a campaign began in the third quarter to reach out to lapsed members. 4 A donor gift from Dr. Michael and Chris The park district received a grant Basista will provide changes to the of $84,000 from the State of Ohio Secor Window on Wildlife in 2014 as the Recreational Trails Fund. renovation plans for the building and the Nature Photo Center get underway. Partnerships with The Anderson’s, 7 Up, Roadrunners, BBCSN as well as others France Stone Foundation, a long-time in the community continued to maximize supporter of Metroparks, made a Metroparks outreach in 2013. $30,000 grant to the park district in 2013. The Metroparks staff aggressively Financial and volunteer support from the pursues grant funding. In 2013, the park BP Husky refinery, Friends of Pearson district received a total of $1.2 million in and the Eastern Maumee Bay Area grants for land acquisition and $645,000 Chamber of Commerce made possible in additional state and federal grants a unique new playground at Pearson for environmental stewardship and road Metropark. maintenance. Reenactors at Ft. Miamis event commemorating the First Siege at nearby Ft. Meigs. Former Board President Special members programs provided visitor can even hear dramatic readings opportunities to learn more about of letters written by American and Leaves Metroparks Legacy the park district that they generously British soldiers. Drawings by local artist ack Gallon was a noted Toledo attorney and support. Richard Reed depict scenes from the civil rights advocate, and for 20 years a member battles to help better explain the historic J of the Board of Park Commissioners. Because of Gifts, Grants, Partnerships events that took place at the fort. his service and leadership, the Ohio Parks and A small park in Maumee is a big part Recreation Association inducted him into its Hall of A piece of Toledo area history from of local history. Ft. Miamis, a property Fame in 2010. on the Maumee River now owned by another era was also preserved thanks to partial funding from the Stranahan Metroparks, played roles in the Battle Mr. Gallon loved the parks, and never stopped Foundation: The Manor House at of Fallen Timbers and the War of supporting them. Even after he was retired from Wildwood Preserve, which was 1812. In May, the site was included in the board, he was often seen walking at Wildwood, the former Stranahan family estate, commemoration events as part of the picking up any litter he found and placing it in a newspaper carrier’s bag that he received a new roof and all of the bicentennial of the First Siege at the wore over his shoulder. larger fort across the river, Fort Meigs. windows in the house were refurbished. The work was finished just in time for Upon Mr. Gallon’s death on March 9 at the age of 82, he left one final gift to the the house to receive more than 16,000 Thanks to a generous gift from the park district – $1 million.