Metroparks will serve as the host for the Sustaining Our World lecture series presented by Dana Incorporated.
The series features four speakers per year covering sustainability and social responsibility topics. Two lectures will be held this spring with two more in the fall at the Glass City Metropark Pavilion. Free and open to the public, the lectures also will be available online via livestream.
The spring schedule is:
•May 5, 6:30 p.m., Restoration is Worth the Effort
Speakers will be Tim Schetter, Ph.D., chief natural resources officer, Metroparks Toledo; Joe Cappel, vice president of business development, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, and Marc Gerdeman, brownfields redevelopment officer, City of Toledo.
Experts in their field, these three will discuss the conversion of former brownfields into clean, safe, natural parkland, on a site where such as transformation is already happening.
Their presentation will focus on the economic benefits of restoring sites like Glass City, the adaptive reuse of dredged material from the Maumee River and plans for the future of Toledo’s riverfront.
Following their remarks, the three will hold a panel discussion with the audience. An optional walking tour of recently completed restoration work will follow, weather permitting.
•June 22, 6:30 p.m., Engaging Diverse Audiences in the Environment
Dr. Mamie Parker will discuss the importance of engaging diverse audiences, especially youth, in the environment.
The first black woman regional director in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dr. Parker oversaw 13 northeastern states and key conservation successes, including pivotal work to remove dams and restore fish passage for Atlantic salmon.
She went on to serve as Head of Fisheries nationally. Her work now focuses on engaging youth in the environment through speaking and coaching.
“Sustainability is a primary objective of Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk,” said Dave Zenk, executive director of Metroparks Toledo. “The project will directly benefit the Maumee River and Lake Erie by restoring natural areas. At the same time, it will engage people in the outdoors, which is vital to creating a future generation of conservationists.”
