Metroparks of the Toledo Area 2014 Annual Report A Year in Your Metroparks

11,736 Acres of Land At Least 127,866 Memories 18 square miles of land (more than That’s how many people attended 2,584 500 million square feet!) preserved private functions, from family reunions your region’s natural heritage, keeping in park shelters to weddings in natural the Toledo Region green and adding settings as memorable as the occasion. value to the community. 4,585 Dedicated Helpers 120 Miles of Trail Volunteers donated more than 47,000 If you hiked every mile of trail in the hours of their time to keep the parks Metroparks, it would be like walking clean, safe and natural. Thank you to from Toledo to Detroit – and back. everyone who helped to make it a great year!

2014 Revenue $19.2 million 3,464,379 Visitors Visitors to the Metroparks in 2014 Local property taxes $ 15.7 million could fill every seat in Mud Hens FINANCES Donations, federal/state grants $ 2.5 million stadium more than 387 times. Income from fees $ 1.0 million 2014 Expenses $22.4 million 81,783 Program Participants People of all ages attended 990 public at a Salaries/personnel $ 8.3 million or requested educational programs. Land acquisition $ 3.0 million That many students would fill Driscoll Park development/major maintenance $ 6.3 million Center Auditorium at the University of GLANCE Park operations, utilities, materials, etc. $ 4.8 million Toledo 235 times. 2014 Will Be Remembered For…

he elevated boardwalk and covered bridge New picnic shelters and playgrounds opened Tconnecting the east and west sides of at Farnsworth and Pearson Metroparks. A new Wildwood Preserve Metropark (pictured on the Heritage Center opened at The Canal Experience cover) reopened after months of reconstruction. at .

A record number of people – nearly 21,000 The first Outdoor Skills Expo in May at Side Cut – attended Holidays in the Manor House to Metropark debuted outdoor skills programs admire the decorations by volunteers and make such as archery and kayaking that are now a freshly-toasted s’more at a new welcome tent offered on a regular basis. sponsored by The Andersons. More than 2,000 people camped during the The National Center for Nature Photography, first full season of the White Oak Campground Window on Wildlife and Secor Room at at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, where the 2014 Revenue $19.2 million Secor Metropark reopened after an extensive Caretaker’s Cottage also opened for overnight Local property taxes $ 15.7 million renovation. accommodations. Historic Adirondack shelters Donations, federal/state grants $ 2.5 million at Farnsworth were restored to provide another, Income from fees $ 1.0 million Staff and volunteers connected with people at unique camping option. 87 community events, from festivals to parades. 2014 Expenses $22.4 million Elementary students came to the Metroparks The Old Guard of the U.S. Army marched in Salaries/personnel $ 8.3 million during 15 days of after-school field trips. And to help celebrate the 240th anniversary of the Land acquisition $ 3.0 million three new mascots – Otis, Owlberta and Boggs – , where the famed fife Park development/major maintenance $ 6.3 million joined the staff. and drum corps began. Park operations, utilities, materials, etc. $ 4.8 million Looking Ahead: A Master Plan

Comprehensive Master Plan: Over the next decade, the park district will complete enhances the lives of millions of visitors each Today, Tomorrow Our Future projects that were initiated years ago, which will year. We encourage everyone to get out of result in several new park areas. When they are doors, connect with the world around us and n 2014, the Metroparks completed a three completed, everyone in Lucas County will live within discover the breathtaking natural beauty of your part comprehensive plan that will serve as a I five miles of a Metropark. Metroparks. roadmap for today, tomorrow and our future. Planning For The Future Looking ahead, as Maintaining and Protecting Existing Resources Metroparks of the Toledo Area projects are completed Metroparks will slowly and Services The Metroparks consist of 10 Board of Park Commissioners transition resources from a development to stand-alone parks that are the foundation of the Scott J. Savage, President an operational mode. Today, tomorrow and park district today. We will continue to focus Lera Doneghy, Vice-president in the future Metroparks will continue to play on what we’re best at – protecting habitat and a contributing role in important issues facing Fritz Byers, Vice-president providing clean safe natural areas for people northwest , including: regional identity, and wildlife to enjoy. We will also continue to Stephen W. Madewell, Executive Director environmental and personal health, the preservation provide informative educational programs for of habitat and open space, and maintaining or Dave Zenk, Deputy Director children and adults, encouraging appropriate improving a myriad of quality-of-life indicators. use and appreciation of the Metroparks and 5100 W. Central Ave. all of the natural resources of . While Metroparks reflects on 87 years of Toledo, OH 43615 Metroparks remains committed to being fiscally conservation, education and recreation with much 419.407.9700 conservative, pursuing grants and outside pride, we’re also excited to have a comprehensive MetroparksToledo.com funding whenever possible. master plan in place to help guide the operation and development of the park district over the next two Support Your Metroparks with Completing Projects The comprehensive plan decades. your time, talent and treasure. establishes timelines for the completion of a number of important projects and provides Connecting people to nature is and will continue metroparks guidelines for sustainable, controlled growth. to be a priority for the park system. Metroparks T O L E D O A R E A