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<title>Metroparks of Toledo Area : Newsroom</title>
<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro</link>
<description><![CDATA[What's new and newsworthy in the Metroparks]]></description>
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	<title>Wabash Cannonball, University/Parks Trail Closures</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4634</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Parts of the Wabash Cannonball Trail North Fork will be closed in sections starting Monday, May 13, through about the first week in June for pavement repairs.
Work will begin at the west end of the trail and move east. The project will include tree trimming and guardrail replacement as well as crack repair and sealing. Curb ramps, topsoil and seeding, and other work will continue into early July.
A similar project on the University/Parks Trail is set to begin the week of June 3, with moving trail closures through mid-September and additional work continuing into mid-October.
Work on both trails will be done in sections between roads, with one section opening before the next one closes.
The $1.2 million project is being managed by the Lucas County Engineer's Office, with 80 percent of the funding coming from a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant. The remainder of the funding is being provided by Metroparks and partners who own the trails.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Wed, 8 May 2013 14:27:04 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4634]]></guid>
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<item>
	<title>Race Results: Happy Trails 5K Run/Walk</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4615</link>
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	<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:05:57 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4615]]></guid>
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	<title>Commuter Special Use Trail Permits Available</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4647</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Regional trails are used for commuting as well as recreationn, fitness and enjoying nature. Because trail hours are the same as the Metroparks - 7 a.m. until dark every day of the year - it limits some commuters' options. For example, a someone bicycling to work, school or church during open hours would be unable to return on the same trail after dark.
For this reason, Metroparks issues special permits for after hours commuting on the University/Parks and Wabash Cannonball trails.
Download permit application
Commuter permits can be attached to a bicycle to show that the commuter has received permission to use a trail for transportation during hours when the trail is closed.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 10:54:17 EST</pubDate>
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	<title>Essay Contest Winners</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4657</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/><a href="http://www.wgte.org/wgte/store/cart_add.asp?item_id=4657">Purchase</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 6 Jun 2013 14:08:07 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4657]]></guid>
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	<title>Jack Gallon Served Metroparks Board For 20 Years</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4591</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Jack Gallon, a Metroparks Board member for 20 years who was inducted into the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Hall of Fame in 2010, died Saturday at Aspen Grove Assisted Living, Lambertville. He was 82.
Mr. Gallon was an athlete, attorney, businessman and champion of many social justice causes.
Obituary&nbsp;|&nbsp;Blade Article



A Leader In Parks And Recreation
Mr. Gallon devoted most of his life to advancing parks and recreation at the local, state and national level, starting as a playground leader for Toledo City Parks as a teen in the 1940s. From 1989 to 2009, he served on the Board of Park Commissioners, and as president for much of that.
One of his major accomplishments during that time was the creation of the University/Parks Trail, one of the first multi-jurisdictional trail partnerships in Ohio. With Mr. Gallon's leadership on the board, Metroparks later added the Wabash Cannonball Trail. He was also instrumental in starting the Volunteer Trail Patrol, which his law firm has supported financially.
The Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Blue Creek Conservation Area were acquired under his Board leadership, and a land levy was approved by voters, leading to 10 years of unprecedented growth for the park district.
Among Mr. Gallon's many passions were improving the effectiveness of boards, providing educational opportunities and forums for citizen-board members to interact. That leadership extended beyond Metroparks to the state, regional and national levels.
He served on the OPRA Board for more than 10 years as the Chair of the Citizen Board Member Section. He served as Ohio's citizen representative to the National Recreation and Park Association Great Lakes Regional Council for three years while also serving on the NRPA Citizen Board Member Branch Board of Directors for six years. And he represented Ohio at the NRPA Legislative Forum for more than a decade. One of his many legacies is a Board and Staff Development Institute at OPRA, which is named in his honor.
Upon his retirement from the Metroparks board in 2009, the Red Trail at Wildwood was named the Jack Gallon Trail.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:20:43 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4591]]></guid>
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	<title>Prairies Being Restored At Wildwood Preserve</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4578</link>
	<description><![CDATA[(Photo: Restored prairie at Oak Openings Preserve. Photo by Art Weber.)
Work To Begin With Winter Mowing
Prairie areas in Wildwood Preserve Metropark are undergoing intensive restoration work that will result in improved Oak Openings habitat for numerous species, including birds, more than 50 types of butterflies and several types of rare, native plants.

Project Fact Sheet

Mowing is set to begin in February to cut existing vegetation to the ground. This spring, when the plants emerge, herbicides will be used selectively to weed out non-native invasive, species, allowing native plants to thrive.
"The result will be a very scenic prairie that is home to a wide variety of plants and animals," said Tim Schetter, Metroparks director of natural resources.
The three-year project will be done in stages, leaving vegetation for wildlife to use as the mowed areas reestablish themselves. Most of the mowing will be done at night, when the park is closed.
First, crews will target an area known to regular park visitors as Susan's Meadow, visible from the Yellow Trail. A portion of the area is also known to some as "logo tree prairie" because of a large oak tree that dominates the landscape and is featured in the Metroparks logo.
Other areas that will be managed this year include the Orange Trail Prairie, visible from the All Purpose Trail and behind the playground, as well as the Purple Trail Prairie, also known as the Stranahan Meadow.
The project is being funded with support from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Partners for Clean Streams.
Prairies (sometimes called meadows), are one of the distinctive natural features of the Oak Openings Region, which includes Wildwood. They are important because of the diversity of plant and animal life they support. "Acre for acre, the diversity in a prairie is going to be much more than in a woodland," said Schetter. He added that the openness of a prairie allows sunlight to reach plants on the ground, unlike in a shady, wooded area.
Unfortunately, invasive, non-native species are taking over prairies, reproducing rapidly without any natural controls and threatening the survival of native species.
Mowing, herbicides and prescribed fires have been used successfully to restore prairies elsewhere in the Oak Openings Region, including at Oak Openings Preserve and Secor Metroparks. Results have been dramatic. A variety of native plants and animals have benefitted, including the Karner blue butterfly, a federally endangered species that was once extirpated from the region but was reintroduced at sites within the region.

What It Will Look Like
At the beginning of the project, the mowed areas will look very different from the overgrown field that park visitors are used to seeing. Signs will be posted and fact sheets will be available to inform visitors about the project. During the restoration work, Metroparks staff may be seen in the prairie areas applying herbicides using backpack sprayers.
All herbicide used on Metroparks lands are registered with the Environmental Protection agency, and members of the land management team are trained in state and federal pesticide laws.
The Wildwood Prairie Restoration Project will benefit not only sun-loving plants, but approximately 50 species of butterflies, as well as breeding birds such as field sparrows, chipping sparrows, song sparrows, indigo buntings and woodcocks, according to Karen Menard, stewardship services supervisor. Reptiles and amphibians, bats and mammals will also benefit from the habitat improvements, she added.
Schetter and Menard said visitors to Wildwood can expect to see results within three years as the prairie grows.
In a separate but related project, Metroparks crews have been cutting invasive, woody plants at Wildwood along Central Avenue. Like the nearby prairie project, the work is being done to stop the spread of invasive, non-native species.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Sun, 10 Feb 2013 11:16:13 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4578]]></guid>
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	<title>Photography Center Closed For Renovations</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4536</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/><a href="http://www.wgte.org/wgte/store/cart_add.asp?item_id=4536">Purchase</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:38:22 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4536]]></guid>
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<item>
	<title>Local Travelers Share Photos, Stories In Winter Series</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4551</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/><a href="http://www.wgte.org/wgte/store/cart_add.asp?item_id=4551">Purchase</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:35:46 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4551]]></guid>
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	<title>Metroparks Wins Two Awards From State Association</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4513</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Metroparks was honored with two awards in the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Awards of Excellence contest:
First place in the Urban Programs category for the Week of Caring volunteer event in September.
Second Place in the Management Innovation category for an internal grants program funded by the sale of memberships.
The awards will be presented in February at a banquet during the OPRA annual conference in Columbus.
Click on the attached news release above for details.]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 2 Nov 2012 17:07:58 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4513]]></guid>
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	<title>Super Searcher Wins Metroparks Contest</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4449</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Joe Kane, of East Toledo, was the grand prize winner of the Great Park Search, a nine-week scavenger hunt in the Metroparks.Joe, a union painter, and his wife, Gwen, a retired teacher, visited every Metropark most weeks during the contest, along with their dog, Jackie. For the contest, they followed weekly clues to find 69 "hidden" locations throughout the park system and entered the codewords they found on a website.Mr. Kane's name was drawn from more than 3,000 correct entries. The prize package included more than $1,000 worth of items and gift cards from The Andersons.The Great Park Search, now in its second year, is sponsored by Metroparks, Toledo.com, Buckeye Cablevision, The Blade and The Andersons.Congratulations to Joe, and to the nine weekly winners, whose names were drawn each week of the nine-week contest:Josh Morse of MaumeePeter Dieringer of ToledoRosalie Hinde of ToledoBetty C. Hood of WatervilleFrederick Blosser of SylvaniaAndrea Baillie of HollandKatie O'Reilly of MaumeeLynn Liber of SylvaniaMarcia Draeger of Toledo]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:04:16 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4449]]></guid>
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	<title>Levy Would Maintain Metroparks, Complete Projects</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4442</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Board Votes To Place Levy On November Ballot
UPDATE, November 7, 2012 - Issue 21,&nbsp;the 0.9-mill levy for Metroparks mantenance and operations, was approved by Lucas County voters in yesterday's General Election.
July 25, 2012 - The Board of Park Commissioners, governing body of Metroparks of the Toledo Area, voted today to place a 0.9 mill levy for 10 years on the November General Election ballot to continue the park system's ongoing conservation work in Lucas County.
A portion of the levy would take the place of a 0.3 mill, 10-year levy for land acquisition that expires at the end of the year. The new levy would continue to provide funding to purchase parkland while restoring essential funding to meet the needs of the community.
"The purpose of the levy is to continue to operate clean, safe, natural parks, open every day of the year without an admission fee," said Steve Madewell, executive director of the park system. "It will allow us to continue our work on ongoing, long-term projects while maintaining existing parks at a level of quality that the taxpayer have come to expect from Metroparks."
The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $27.56 per year, an increase of about $18 a year over the expiring levy.
"For an investment of less than 35 cents a week per homeowner, we will deliver a tremendous amount of value back to the community, including maintenance and improvements that benefit property values and make Lucas County a desirable place to live, work and play," Madewell said.
Specifically, the levy would be used to:-Maintain trails, buildings and equipment.-Purchase natural areas and open space to meet the existing and future needs of the community.
-Continue work to complete the planned development of projects currently in various stages of planning: The Middlegrounds in downtown Toledo, a greenway connecting Secor and Oak Openings Preserve Metroparks in western Lucas County, the Blue Creek Conservation Area in Whitehouse, the Fallen Timbers Battlefield in Maumee,Keil Farm in Toledo, Pearson North in Oregon and Howard Farms in Jerusalem Township-And maintain the necessary level of ranger patrol and family programs to provide the safe, relaxing and educational Metroparks experiences the community has come to expect.
Board President Scott Savage and Vice-President Fritz Byers jointly moved to adopt a resolution to place the levy on the ballot. The third member of the board, Vice-President Lera Doneghy, participated in today's board meeting via conference call from Texas and expressed her support for the resolution's passage.
Metroparks has a 10-year, 1.4-mill operating levy last approved by Lucas County voters in 2007. The 0.3-mill levy for land acquisition that is set to expire was approved in 2003.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:58:09 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4442]]></guid>
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<item>
	<title>Former Director's Legacy Includes Canal, Rail-Trails</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4430</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Jean T. WardJean T. Ward, who died July 16 at age 78, was known for his steady leadership, creativity, passion and warm nature. He leaves a legacy at Metroparks that has enriched the lives of people throughout the Toledo area.A forester by training who worked for the city of Toledo, Mr. Ward came to Metroparks in 1966 as a landscape architect. Two years later he was named deputy director to Robert Metz. When Mr. Metz retired in 1985, Mr. Ward was appointed director-secretary.Mr. Ward's many contributions included new ideas that challenged the public's perceptions of a Metropark. He established the region's first two "linear parks" (or "Rails-to-trails"), now known as the University/Parks and Wabash Cannonball trails. He also restored a section of the Miami &amp; Erie Canal to create an educational attraction called The Canal Experience at Providence Metropark.Several significant land acquisitions were made under Mr. Ward's leadership:- Land adjacent to Wildwood that allowed the park district to expand the region's most popular park. Oak Grove School, formerly located on Corey Road, was moved down the street to the Wildwood addition and restored.- The Fallen Timbers Battlefield, where artifacts had been unearthed in archaeological digs, documenting the site of the nationally-significant battle. He traveled to Washington to testify before a Congressional committee that later named the battlefield a national historic site and an Affiliated Unit of the National Park Service.- The former Toledo House of Corrections in Whitehouse, now known as the Blue Creek Conservation Area.- And land along the Maumee River, which he saw as a priority: Audubon Islands and the property where a new parking lot for Bend View opened last year.In December 2000, the Metroparks staff threw a retirement party for Mr. Ward in a new facility at the Wildwood addition. During the party, the building was christened the Jean T. Ward Pavilion. Among many other honors that followed, he was inducted into the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Hall of Fame in 2009. Earlier, he had received OPRA's Lifetime Achievement Award.Metroparks and the parks and recreation community across Ohio have lost a dear friend and an important champion of conservation.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:55:45 EST</pubDate>
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	<title>New Signs Mark Metroparks Trails</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4424</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Photo: New 1/10th mile markers allow trail users to calculate their distance, identify their location and navigate the trails. Each marker includes the color and abbreviation of the trail you are following.
New trail signs in some parks are a sign of things to come for trails throughout the Metroparks. In addition to new posts identifying trails and providing other way-finding information, markers are now spaced every tenth of a mile.
The signs have been installed at Wildwood Preserve are about to be installed at Swan Creek Preserve and along the Towpath Trail connection Farnsworth, Bend View and Providence.
Using the mile markers and new kiosk maps, runners and walkers can now plot their own distance and make their own course. The markers also allow trail users with cell phones to better pinpoint their location in the event that they need to call 911 for an emergency. In addition to the color (or "blaze") of the trail, the posts also have abbreviated trail names for the 7 percent of the population that is color blind.
Eventually, the new signage will be used on trails in all of the Metroparks.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:13:01 EST</pubDate>
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	<title>Rangers To Step Up Enforcement On Trails</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4369</link>
	<description><![CDATA[May 29, 2012 - Nearly 150 miles of trails in the Metroparks offer places to unwind, explore, recreate and learn about nature. But increased traffic and conflicting uses on the trials can lead to frustration for some hikers, bicyclists and dog walkers.Starting Saturday - National Trails Day - and continuing through June, Metroparks rangers will focus additional patrols on the park district's trail system. Special attention will be paid to the longer Wabash Cannonball Trail and University/Parks Trail, where fast-traveling bicycles have raised safety concerns."We have rules and regulations, but what's most important on the trails is common courtesy," said Joe Fausnaugh, chief ranger for Metroparks of the Toledo Area.Some cyclists, he said, travel too fast to give a verbal warning when they are passing other users, so they use air horns, startling walkers and pets. Mr. Fausnaugh said rangers will be looking for cyclists traveling at excessive speed when other trail users are present and issuing citations if warranted.Bicycles are permitted only on designated bike or all-purpose trails, he added.Running groups, such as high school athletic teams, are another source of complaints, particularly on weekday afternoons at Wildwood Preserve, Mr. Fausnaugh said. The park district issues permits for running groups, and has notified athletic directors about trail etiquette and regulations, such as running no more than two people abreast and passing on the left.Dog walkers occasionally bring complaints, too, Mr. Fausnaugh said. Metroparks rules require dogs to be on leashes and under the control of their handler at all times. He said that retractable leashes that extend more than the legally-permitted 8 feet are a poor choice for walking dogs in the Metroparks because owners have less control, and lengthy leashes can be dangerous to passing bicyclists and other trail users."The bottom line is that everyone has a right to use the trails," Mr. Fausnaugh said. "We want everyone from bird watchers to joggers and bicyclists to have a pleasant experience. We can't allow inconsiderate visitors to interfere with others' enjoyment of the parks, especially when there are safety considerations."Dave Zenk, superintendent of parks, said the best ambassadors for the trails are the users themselves. "Our staff and volunteers cannot be present at all times on almost 150 miles of trail, so we ask the trail users for help." Every park has a dedicated number to directly reach a park ranger on patrol. Those numbers are posted on signs at trailheads and on buildings."Metroparks also relies upon the 224 members of its Volunteer Trail Patrol, who are identified by yellow shirts and walk the trails to provide customer service to park visitors. The volunteers are trained in customer service, park district rules and regulations, first aid and CPR."America's 200,000 miles of trails allow us access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and much more," states the website for the American Hiking Association, sponsor of National Trails Day. "Trails take us to good physical and mental health by providing us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping and escape from our stresses."About Metroparks TrailsMetroparks of the Toledo Area maintains 148 miles of trails, ranging from primitive, dirt paths to stone or paved trails for walking, running bicycling and skating.Trails in the nine Metroparks range in length from less than half a mile to the 16-mile hiking trail at Oak Openings Preserve. There are also 14.5 miles of horse trails at Oak Openings.Metroparks also maintains and patrols three "greenway" trails: The University/Parks Trail in West Toledo; the Wabash Cannonball Trail in southwestern Lucas County; and the Towpath Trail, which connects Farnsworth, Bend View and Providence Metroparks along the Maumee River. Metroparks is also a partner in the recently-acquired, 11-mile Westside Corridor, which will some day connect north and south Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties over the river.Mr. Zenk said that using the trails is consistently listed as the No. 1 activity in the Metroparks when the park district surveys Lucas County residents.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 11:16:11 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4369]]></guid>
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	<title>Downtown Riverfront Land To Be Next Metropark</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4324</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Land on the Maumee River in downtown Toledo will be the home of the next Metropark. The Middlegrounds will be developed over the next two years, thanks in part to a donation from the Rotary Club of Toledo.The half-mile of river frontage begins at the Anthony Wayne Bridge and extends southwest of Martin Luther King Plaza.The $1.2 million purchase price and other costs associated with the purchase were reimbursed to the park district from a grant through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program. The grant, totaling $1.5 million, was designated for the project by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur in February 2005.The property will be an urban greenspace with a walking trail and scenic views of the Maumee River.About the Middlegrounds]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Tue, 1 May 2012 13:26:03 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4324]]></guid>
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	<title>Oak Openings Tornado Recovery Plan</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4252</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Photo: "Slash and stumps" were removed in the latest round of work to clean up after the tornado.The Oak Openings is a rare and special region in northwest Ohio. It's also a region that has undergone constant change. Development in the area, invasive species (including the emerald ash borer) and other factors have drastically altered the landscape.Metroparks has an active land management program to preserve the unique characteristics of the Oak Openings, but new challenges continue to crop up.Download the new brochure, The Oak Openings Then And NowThe most recent change to the landscape was a spring 2010 tornado that impacted 147 of the 3,765-acre preserve by toppling and damaging thousands of trees. Many hours of clean up and restoration efforts have included removal of dead and severely damaged trees. This winter, a contractor removed the remaining slash (branches and stumps), as well as planting trees in the affected area in a project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.Metroparks land management plans for the tornado-impacted sites are an effort to sustain regional biodiversity for future generations of Lucas County residents. These efforts include:Control populations of woody andnon-woody invasive plant speciesPrior to cleanup, the storm damage prevented Metroparks staff from safely and effectively managing these areas to control invasive plant species. Undesirable species will now be removed to prevent them from threatening the ecological health of surrounding habitats.Increase connectivity among globallyrare savanna and prairie habitats The area damaged by the storm lies in close proximity to globally significant savanna and prairie habitats that are currently managed by Metroparks staff to sustain their unique plant and animal diversity. &#65533;Removal of the storm damage will create natural corridors for the movement of wildlife species, such as the endangered Karner blue butterfly, between these areas. Reintroduce native prairie species toimprove habitat for wildlifeHistorically, the area damaged by the storm was made up of savanna and prairie habitats. Metroparks staff will actively restore this area by planting native prairie grasses and wildflowers on selected sites to improve habitat for rare wildlife species such as Karner blue butterflies and lark sparrows.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:14:02 EST</pubDate>
	<guid><![CDATA[http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/newsroom/item.asp?item_id=4252]]></guid>
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	<title>Board Hires Steve Madewell As Metroparks Director</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4203</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Stephen Madewell has been named executive director of Metroparks of the Toledo Area, the agency that oversees more than 11,000 acres of natural area parks in Lucas County. He becomes the eighth person to serve at the helm of the organization since its founding in 1928.Mr. Madewell, 56, has been director since 2009 at Lake Metroparks, an 8,000 acre park system in Lake County, Ohio.Scott J. Savage, president of the three-member Board of Park Commissioners, governing body of Metroparks, said that Mr. Madewell was selected from a pool of "outstanding candidates" provided by Waverly Partners, an executive search firm."Steve stood out to us because of his breadth of experience, thorough knowledge of special park districts and deep commitment to the conservation mission that is the core of what we are all about," Mr. Savage said."Steve has spent his career in special park districts in Ohio, working as a naturalist, park ranger and natural resources manager," Mr. Savage added. "He has been in senior leadership for more than 20 years and director of two excellent park districts here in Ohio. My fellow commissioners and I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to lead Metroparks."The board, which also includes vice-presidents Lera Doneghy and Fritz Byers, voted unanimously to hire Mr. Madewell at a special meeting this morning at the park district's administrative offices in Wildwood Preserve Metropark.The new executive director&#65533;s start date will be April 2.In Lake County, Mr. Madewell served as deputy director from 1991 to 2009 and interim director for a year before being named to the top position. From 1988 to 1990, he was division head of resource interpretation and protection.Previously, he served as director of the Geauga Park District. He was also a park ranger, naturalist and environmental interpretation and resource protection manager at the Greene County Recreation and Parks Department."I am humbled and honored to be afforded this opportunity and challenge,&#65533; Mr. Madewell said. "This is incredibly exciting from a number of perspectives:"We are at a time in our country's history when many of the great Midwestern cities are challenged with redefining themselves and their future. The conservation mission of regional park systems and open space districts must play a significant role in the stabilization and revitalization of the urban and metropolitan areas and exploring future opportunities."Also, Metroparks serving the Toledo area has done a marvelous job with the conservation, protection and promotion of natural resources unique to this region," he added. "In addition the park system has a selection of historic attributes directly tied to the original land forms of northwestern Ohio and early elements of the region's social and cultural development. It is a marvelous park system."Metroparks of the Toledo Area is a regional government agency with nine Metroparks in Lucas County, preserving internationally significant habitats in the Oak Openings region and Maumee River/Lake Erie watershed, as well as historical sites such as the Stranahan Estate at Wildwood Preserve and the Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site in Maumee. It also provides partial funding to Toledo Botanical Garden.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:35:59 EST</pubDate>
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	<title>11.6-mile Corridor Purchased for Future Westside Trail in Toledo</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=4135</link>
	<description><![CDATA[Photo: U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur discusses the corridor project while Toledo Mayor Mike Bell and students from Beverly Elementary School look on. (October 31, 2011)Creation of an 11.6-mile trail along CSX railroad land in Toledo, Ohio has cleared a big hurdle. The land now belongs to the public. The majority of the funding for the $6.5 million purchase came from federal transportation funds allocated with the support of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-9) in the last highway reauthorization bill (SAFETEA-LU), which passed Congress in 2005. The federal money was leveraged with local funds from Metroparks of the Toledo Area and other trail partners."Securing the Westside Trail as a community asset will create jobs and connect neighborhoods - and what could be more important?" said Congresswoman Kaptur. "Trails enhance recreation and advance the cause of wellness, both are important attributes to quality of life in a vibrant community. I'm thrilled to know that generations from now, families will look back and thank The Trust for Public Land and all our local partners for building our community forward."In a series of deals completed today, CSX Transportation, Inc. has sold the entire 11.6-mile rail corridor. The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization, arranged the sale of the corridor. New owners of the corridor include Metroparks of the Toledo Area, the Wood County Port Authority, the City of Toledo, the University of Toledo and the Wood County Park District. TPL also facilitated the sale of the Maumee River bridge directly from CSX to Wood County Port Authority."We are grateful to CSX and all of our remarkable partners for their endurance and commitment to these complex transactions," said Bill Carroll, TPL director for Ohio. "Without their thoughtful engagement, and without Congresswoman Kaptur's foresight, this never would have happened.""The popular vision for a new 11-mile trail in Toledo has reached a significant milestone," said Warren Henry, Vice President of Transportation, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. "We now have an exceptional opportunity to develop a major north-south urban trail connecting homes, parks, schools, and workplaces using a clean, green, active, and safe travel option."Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) has organized the partners on the Westside Rail to Trail project, which is at the core of their transportation plan for Toledo. The trail now needs to be planned and developed and will eventually connect college campuses, community parks, other local trail systems, and numerous schools and neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people within the City of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties will have access to Westside Trail.Wood County Port Authority will retain the half-mile Maumee River bridge portion of the property. One of the first steps in the trail development process will be the demolition of the bridge. The longest portion of the property, 4.1 miles, was transferred to The University of Toledo. The City of Toledo owns 3.5 miles of the trail, Metroparks of the Toledo Area will retain 1.75 miles, and Wood County Park District received 1.5 miles."Great universities are interconnected with great cities," said UT President Lloyd Jacobs. "Toledo is a great University City, and an educational center. Creation of the Westside Trail is an important step toward enhancing this identity by increasing recreational accessibility to our campuses for students, families and all members of the northwest Ohio community."Since it was founded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land has helped protect 3 million acres of land in 47 states. In Ohio, TPL has protected more than 12,300 acres valued at more than $130 million. TPL depends on the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve its mission to preserve land for people. Visit tpl.org/ohio.Learn more:West Side Corridor (TMACOG)Benefits of "rail-trails" (Rails-to-Trails Conservancy)]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:22:30 EST</pubDate>
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	<title>Please...Don't Feed The Animals In The Metroparks</title>
	<link>http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/item.asp?item_id=3958</link>
	<description><![CDATA[No person, without specific, written permission from the Director or his designee, shall distribute, leave or provide any kind of food products for the feeding of wild animals within or adjacent to park property. - Metroparks Regulations, 14.4.Good Intentions Gone BadMetroparks visitors mean well when they bring food for wildlife. They think they're doing wildlife a favor, helping them survive and to live the good life. And they feel good about themselves as Good Samaritans, helping animals less fortunate.What seems to be a good thing isn't at all. Feeding the wildlife by park visitors is, in general, harmful to the health of both wildlife and park visitors.Download these tips in the form a brochure by clicking on the PDF in the left column of this page.How Can That Be?The problem begins with what visitors are feeding. Popcorn and bread are typical offerings, and both are low in the nutrition wildlife needs. By filling their stomachs with "junk" food, they're not getting the nutrition they need, nutrition they could easily find in the plentiful wild foods in the Metroparks.In times of extreme hardship, such as extended severe cold or when natural food sources are covered by ice and snow, feeding junk foods can actually be a death sentence to the very animals visitors are trying to assist. They'll forego the foods they need to survive in favor of the easy junk food pickings.Is there enough food in the wild?Sure there is. Fruits, seeds and other natural foods are plentiful in protected natural forests, prairies and meadows such as those found in the Metroparks.Is feeding nutritious foods okay?Feeding more nutritious foods like peanuts and sunflower seeds is better, but it&#65533;s still not okay. Feeding wildlife concentrates species and the resulting overcrowding can promote the spread of disease. It can encourage waterfowl to resist natural in&#65533;stincts to migrate and become dependent species.Feeding also breaks down wildlife's natural survival instincts. In losing fear of people, wildlife can become beggars, fearlessly approaching people, pets or cars. Visitors have been bitten, deer have been encouraged to wander into the path of cars, and visitors have been exposed at close range to raccoons and other mammals potentially carrying rabies or other diseases. Both wildlife and visitors can be placed in jeopardy.But I love wildlife and want to help.And Metroparks is glad you do. But the challenge is to enjoy wildlife in a manner that&#65533;s healthy for both animals and visitors.Visit Metroparks in the morning and evening, times when wildlife is most active along the trails. Participate in Metroparks nature walks and programs geared for viewing and discovering wildlife. Be more observant on your walks, keep noise to a minimum, bring along a pair of binoculars to bring wildlife up close.If you want to help wildlife, consider donating to Metroparks to preserve natural habitats, wild places, animal homes. Or help maintain and supply the Windows on Wildlife by supplying bird seed, pond mainte&#65533;nance or contributions to purchase supplies.Doesn't Metroparks feed wildlife?We do feed wildlife under controlled conditions in the Windows on Wildlife provided in many Metroparks. Included in the feeding regimen is a routine of cleaning and sanitizing feeders to minimize the risk of spreading disease.They're excellent places to safely watch and learn about local wildlife. You get a close-up seat indoors, safely separated from park wildlife as it comes and goes at carefully designed feeding stations. Because there's no direct visitor/wildlife interaction, wildlife is free to visit and partake of nutritious foods without breaking down their natural fear of humans.Should I Feed Wildlife At Home?That's up to you, but if you're going to do it, we encourage you to do it well. Wildlife feeding stations that are designed to meet wildlife's needs for food, water and shelter can be both rewarding and beneficial. Use the Metroparks Windows on Wildlife as models for designing your own backyard wildlife stations. Feel free to call our program staff at 419-407-9701.IT'S THE LAWMetroparks regulations prohibit the feeding of wildlife by park visitors. While Metroparks staff would prefer to solve the feeding problem with education and understanding, rangers are empowered to use their judgement in citing violators.]]></description>
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	<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:05:33 EST</pubDate>
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