City of Toledo Celebrates Opening of Pontiac Preserve, New Waterfront Park Along the Maumee River

The City of Toledo, community partners and residents celebrated the dedication of Pontiac Preserve, a new public park that transforms a former confined disposal facility into a restored riverfront destination along the Maumee River. The completed project opens a once inaccessible area to the public while preserving and showcasing Toledo’s natural waterfront resources.

“Pontiac Preserve represents the continued renewal of Toledo’s riverfront and our commitment to creating new opportunities for residents to experience the natural resources that make our city unique,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “This project demonstrates what can happen when federal, local and community partners come together to restore important spaces and create lasting investments for our neighborhoods. We are grateful to Congresswoman Kaptur and everyone who helped make this vision a reality.”

The Pontiac Preserve project is the latest phase of the Penn 7 Activation Project, which focused on expanding public access to a restored waterfront area along the lower Maumee River near the mouth of Lake Erie. The 59-acre site was once a confined disposal facility owned by the City of Toledo that accepted material dredged from the Maumee River shipping channel in 1972 and 1973.

Previous phases of the project included a feasibility study and habitat restoration efforts that improved the ecological health of the area and created the foundation for future public access.

The City of Toledo received a $498,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant to complete the improvements needed to open the site as a public park. Federal funding was combined with local capital improvement funds and a $10,000 donation from Cleveland-Cliffs to complete the $750,000 project.

“Grateful to help deliver nearly $500,000 in federal funds through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to the City of Toledo for the construction of Pontiac Preserve,” Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) said. “With this federal award and the support of local partners, we will complete the transformation of this space into a new public park further exploring and opening up our riverfront. With accessible parking, a one-mile walking trail and overlook decks along the mighty Maumee River, this will be a new gem for not only the residents of North Toledo, but those throughout Northwest Ohio.”

The project included the installation of a park entrance drive, a permeable paver parking lot supporting green stormwater infrastructure, a fully accessible one-mile walking trail, two overlook decks along the Maumee River and interpretive signage highlighting the history and natural features of the site.

“Pontiac Preserve provides a unique opportunity for residents to access the Maumee River shoreline,” Joe Fausnaugh, Director of Public Service, said. “It is a great example of how Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding can improve the natural environment while also improving the quality of life for Toledo residents. The river is our city’s greatest asset, and projects like Pontiac Preserve help ensure it remains an asset for future generations.”

The dedication of Pontiac Preserve marks a significant milestone in Toledo’s continued investment in public spaces that restore natural areas, strengthen neighborhoods and create new opportunities for residents to experience the city’s waterfront.

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