Proposed Designs for Five Neighborhood Parks Revealed

Exciting new proposed designs were revealed this week to residents for four neighborhood parks, including new playground equipment and areas for sports.

“As part of our strategy to improve our neighborhoods, we are making renovations to parks that have been neglected for decades,” Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. “These improvements for neighborhoods go hand-in-hand with our historic residential roads repaving program, housing programs, and beautification.”

The Kapszukiewicz administration held community engagement meetings Monday and Tuesday to reveal the final design ideas for Goodwin Park, 116 Oregon Rd.; Oakdale Park at Oakdale Avenue and Schomberg Street; Edgar Holmes Park, 1216 Ironwood Ave., and T. Jean Overton Park, 3016 C St. The meetings held Monday and Tuesday followed previous sessions to solicit public input. A future meeting will be scheduled at Maya Park, which is located at Emerald Avenue and Hobart Street.

The final reveals also coincide with the upcoming National Public Lands Day on Sept. 25. It is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September and celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community. It also inspires environmental stewardship and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits.

“We want these neighborhood parks to be the clean, updated, and life-giving locations Toledoans deserve, where children can play safely and enjoy themselves,” said Karen Ranney Wolkins, commissioner of parks, recreation, and forestry. “More people than ever enjoy the jogging, picnicking, and recreational opportunities in our historic, larger parks. We want residents to have equally delightful experiences in our smaller parks throughout Toledo.”

The proposed improvements for the parks are as follows:

• Edgar Holmes Park: new playground equipment, a new basketball court, a new gazebo, picnic tables, and charcoal grills.
• Goodwin Park: new playground equipment, walking path, and benches.
• Oakdale Park: new playground equipment, benches, picnic tables, charcoal grills, drainage improvements, and resurfacing open air shelter area.
• T. Jean Overton Park: new playground equipment and benches.
• Maya Park: input from neighbors will be solicited to revise the plans.

Funding is not yet approved for the improvements at the neighborhood parks.

The city has already approved funding for Casey Jones Park, 1760 Hamilton St., and Feeback Park, 613 Buffalo St. Community input meetings were previously held at both locations. Those park improvements are expected to occur during the 2022 construction season, and will include new playground equipment, benches, charcoal grills, and picnic tables for both parks. Additional funding is being sought to cover walking paths, a small picnic shelter, and a rebuilt basketball court.

Residents are already enjoying improvements that incorporate accessible and inclusive features in all new playground installations at Smith Park, located along Dorr Street between Forest and Lawrence avenues.

“The process for deciding on the new play system at Smith Park involved numerous meetings with neighbors and area stakeholders over the course of many months,” Ms. Ranney Wolkins said. “The new playground is an expression of thoughts and ideas generated by these dedicated individuals. Funding for the system included capital improvement dollars, as well as a donation from the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. We are currently working on the installation of colorful benches surrounding the play area to allow for a more enjoyable experience for those supervising play.”

The new play system at Smith Park features overhead canopies, multiple levels of play including slides, web climbers, swings, and climbing walls. The play system also features a rubberized surface to allow for maximum wheel chair accessibility throughout the play area to ground level features such as the transfer platform, fun phones, low-level climbers, and a handicap swing seat.

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