City Celebrates $1 Million Accessible Playground Opening at Ottawa Park and Announces New Funding for Ice Rink Improvements

The City celebrated the grand opening of a new inclusive playground at Ottawa Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 9th. The inclusive playground, located near the Liz Pearson open-air shelter house, represents a $1 million investment aimed at promoting accessibility and inclusion within the community.

“This project was developed thoughtfully with our partners at The Ability Center, ensuring the playground qualified as a national demonstration site for inclusive play. The design also incorporates iconic Toledo staples like the Jeep Wrangler and the High Level Bridge architecture, celebrating our city's unique heritage. I am honored to be part of the continued history of Ottawa Park!” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said.

Joe Fausnaugh, Director of Toledo Parks and Youth Services, said he was extremely proud of the new inclusive playground at Ottawa Park.

“It will serve as a resource for families across our region to come and play without the worries of overcoming barriers present at more traditional playground structures. We wanted this playground to reflect some of the things that are uniquely Toledo, so that is why you will find the ‘High Level Bridge’ and a full-size ‘Jeep Wrangler’ incorporated into the play area,” Fausnaugh said.

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo and the Toledo/Lucas County Disability Commission were consulted during the development of the playground design. The resulting playground has qualified as a national demonstration site for inclusive play. The project was funded through the American Recovery Plan and serves as a great example of how this funding has been used to elevate the quality of life in our community.

In addition, State Rep. Michele Grim (D-Toledo) announced a $950,000 investment to the Ottawa Park open-air ice-skating rink from the capital budget.

“I am thrilled to announce that Ottawa Park received $950,000 in the capital budget for much-needed ice-skating rink improvements,” Rep. Grim said. “We are not just enhancing this recreational facility but transforming it into a community asset. I am thrilled that we are delivering these capital dollars to Toledo, ensuring our neighborhoods thrive and our residents have top-notch amenities.”

For more information about Ottawa Park and all City Parks please visit: https://toledo.oh.gov/departments/parks-youth-services

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