The Glass City Metropark will enhance East Toledo and downtown neighborhoods while creating a new regional destination. Construction is underway on Phase 1 of the new Metropark on the east side of the Maumee River.
Phase 1 (now open) includes:
- A 3,500-square-foot pavilion with restrooms, a concession window and green roof. The building will accommodate 150 people.
- Rooftop plaza space
- An event lawn that will accommodate 5,000 people for special events
- A sledding hill
- Aggregate and asphalt walking paths
- Water access for fishing, canoeing/kayaking
- Shoreline restoration
- Reforestation with more than 2,000 trees as well as prairie plants
- Stormwater wetlands and bioswales
- A boardwalk over water with seating
- The realignment of Riverside Drive
- A 70-vehicle parking lot
- A new curb cut for park access from E. Broadway Street
A separate contract has been awarded for construction of a bike and pedestrian bridge over Main Street to connect Glass City Metropark with the City of Toledo’s International Park.
Since September 2018, Metroparks has purchased 67 acres of riverfront land from ProMedica for just under $6 million, with more than $4 million of the purchase price paid for by the Clean Ohio Fund. A federal Department of Transportation grant will pay for nearly $1 million of the $1.2 million cost of the bridge. Additional funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and U.S. Forest Service will support habitat restoration and reforestation.
Phase 2 Construction Begins
As construction on Phase I of Glass City Metropark has completed. Several grants recently awarded to Metroparks will help fund construction on Phase 2, roughly between E. Broadway and the National Museum of the Great Lakes:
- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded a $200,000 grant through the Coastal Management Assistance Grants programs.
- The Toledo Community Foundation awarded a grant of $100,000 from the William and Elsie Knight Fund of the Toledo Community Foundation to support preliminary engineering and design work.
Phase II Features to include:
- The Ribbon at Glass City Metropark
- Mini-Maumee water play area
- Restaurant
- Cabanas
- Picnic Shelters
- Campground
- Marina Drive will be realigned as part of the project
- Building at 815 Front Street will be renovated as a community center [details]
- A bridge over Main Street will connect Glass City with International Park, which will also be renovated as a new Metropark, officially opened July 21, 2022.
