Improving Duck Creek
The City of Toledo is working with project partners for the restoration of habitat for fish and aquatic wildlife in and near a portion of Duck Creek within the Collins Park municipal golf course. Restoration plans involve enhancing this stretch of the creek with natural features to improve habitat for bugs, fish and wildlife. Project plans incorporate feedback received from attendees of two community meetings and input provided by stakeholders in other discussions.
Decreasing Sedimentation and Increasing Wildlife to Benefit Greater Maumee Area of Concern
Duck Creek runs through the middle of Collins Park and was significantly altered through subsurface culverts, resulting in degraded fish and wildlife habitat. This site is located in the Maumee Area of Concern (AOC) and restoration activities will improve habitat for a variety of native species while maintaining the functionality of the golf course and helping move the AOC one step closer to delisting.
About the Project
Improvements
The Collins Park Stream Restoration project will restore a degraded watercourse and wetland habitat on a portion of Duck Creek within the Maumee River watershed. Proposed project features include daylighting Duck Creek and creating a more natural stream channel, restoring adjacent floodplain and wetland habitat along Duck Creek, creating pollinator habitat, and reforesting a portion of the parkland while maintaining the golf course.
- Environmental
Bring new fish and wildlife habitat, reduced sedimentation - Economic
Enhance opportunities for public recreation, Improved fishery - Community
Improve urban nature space, water quality and, ecosystem health - Recreation
More interesting play at the golf course
Restoration Metrics
- 3,300 ft. of naturalized stream
- 4.2 acres of riprarian and floodplain habitat
- 2.3 acres of reforestation
- 0.94 acres of pollinator habitat
Project Process
| Fall 2021 | Feasibility Study |
| Spring 2022 | Consult Study |
| Spring 2023 | Complete Study |
| Spring 2024 | Begin Design and Permitting |
| November 12, 2024 | Public Open House |
| January 2026 | Construction Start |
Spring 2026 | Anticipated Construction Complete |
Construction 2026
The City has contracted with Geo Gradel Co. and construction began in January 2026. We anticipate all earthwork activities will be complete before the golf course opens in April 2026 with additional seeding and planting through the summer and into fall 2026.
Construction hours are typically from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Funding and Partners
A grant for $175,100 was awarded for the design and permitting phase of this project through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a regional program that is supporting implementation of a comprehensive restoration plan for the Great Lakes, including cleaning up Areas of Concern. The City also received $175,500 in grant funding to conduct a feasibility study and host public meetings to determine which type of stream restoration project would be best for the golf course, its users, and the creek. A final $1.5 million grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Fund
The project is managed locally by the City of Toledo.