Expansion of two trail systems may be in the works should Metroparks Toledo be successful in obtaining grants for the projects.
At the March 16 meeting, the park commissioners entered into a joint cooperation agreement with the Lucas County commissioners to secure a Clean Ohio trail fund grant for phase two of the University Parks Trail extension. The 0.7-mile extension will run from Silica to Centennial roads, and the grant stipulates that the property owner, Lucas County, be the sponsoring agency on the application.
The park board also authorized a local match of 25 percent for the project which is estimated to cost no more than $500,000.
In addition, the board authorized Allen Gallant, director of community development, to apply for a grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $150,000 to support trail development at International Park. The grant requires a 20 percent match.
DEI Update
The board received an update from Jason Daniels of Jayramon LLC regarding diversity, equity and inclusion in the park system.
To execute the DEI strategy, he said the board and staff need to embrace four areas: clarity and vision casting; prioritization and process management; communication and feedback, and leadership and ownership.
Mr. Daniels said the park commissioners have made progress in several areas. They include board-adopted vision statement and strategic plan for 2021-23; selection of a DEI director; reimagining of summer internship programs; recruitment, onboarding and retention through a DEI lens, and defining key performance measures for DEI efforts.
He began with a survey of staff and workforce demographics. The park district has full-time, part-time and seasonal staff. Of those 85 are millennials, followed by baby boomers, 44; generation X, 42 and generation Z, 41. Of those 93 percent are Caucasian, followed by 3 percent Hispanic, 2 percent African-American and 1 percent Asian.
Mr. Daniels said staff believes that DEI efforts, to be successful, must lead to visible actions with commitment from organizational leaders and the board.
While work has begun, with the staff survey and recruitment of a DEI team, more remains to be done. The next DEI steps, he explained, are to coordinate and facilitate senior/leadership team trainings; develop communications strategy; host a board retreat; engage community/neighborhood stakeholders, and create a strategic plan and an 18- month work plan.
Other Business
In other business, the park board:
•Contracted with Williams Forestry and Associates for the spring forestation project at a cost of $210,670. The project encompasses 31 acres of parkland at Secor, Oak Openings Preserve and Ravine Park, the latter of which is located near Glass City park in east Toledo. Scope of the work consists of planting 20,600 native hardwood bare-root tree seedlings.
•Engaged Jake Coolman as the “hoagie” for the muledrawn canal boat experience this year at Providence park in Grand Rapids. Mr. Coolman will provide mules and horses for all designated canal boat rides and for holiday carriage rides at a cost of $55,457.
•Received the treasurer’s report for February. Matt Cleland, chief financial officer/treasurer, said the first collection of property taxes are in for 2022 and the budget is in line with projections. “Everything is where we expect it for February.”
•Approved payables for February totaling $2.8 million.
The next park board meeting will be at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 20, at Glass City park pavilion, 983 Front Street, east Toledo, and will be open to the public.
~Jane Maiolo
