The approach of warmer weather signifies an uptick in construction throughout the region, and Metroparks Toledo is no exception.
At the April 26 meeting, the park commissioners approved several capital projects.
Among those projects is replacement of playground surfacing at Swan Creek Preserve Metropark.
“The existing artificial surfacing installed in 2014 has exceed its useful service life and needs replaced,” said Lisa Whitton, regional operations manager. “It’s in pretty rough shape.”
The work entails the installation of 2,072-square-feet of poured-in-place rubber surfacing on a compacted stone subbase. Cost for the project is $63,096 with the work being performed by GameTime Inc.
Park commissioners also contracted with Tetra Tech of Toledo at a cost of $1.39 million for engineering and architecture services pertaining to the Glass City Riverwalk in the Vistula neighborhood.
The company will work on a one-mile stretch of riverwalk that will run from Cherry Street and the Martin Luther King bridge to the Craig Street bridge.
The project includes demolition, extensive naturalized and engineered shoreline stabilization; stepped river access; boat docks; paving; retaining and seating walls; railings and bollards; storm drainage, utilities; native landscaping, and site amenities such as kayak lockers, restrooms, shelters, lighting and more.
In another Glass City parkrelated project, the commissioners contracted with the Buehrer Group of Maumee for $1 million to provide architecture and engineering services for urban camping cabins.
The company will produce schematic design options, design development and construction documents for up to four rustic, nautical-themed cabins at 1821 Front Street.
In addition to cabins, the campground will feature tent camping and recreational vehicle sites, restrooms, an open-air pavilion, boardwalk style overlook and pedestrian and vehicular infrastructure.
The park commissioners rounded out work at Glass City, authorizing Art Farm of Whitehouse to design and install a customized mural adjacent to Glass City park at a cost of $55,000.
Designed to enhance the visitor experience, the mural will acknowledge the cultural heritage of Toledo, highlight the natural features of the park and cultivate connections between the community and park district, explained Matt Killam, chief outreach officer.
Retiree Honored
During the meeting, the park commissioners recognized long-time Metroparks team member Kim High, who is retiring after 40 years with the park district.
“Ms. High joined Metroparks in 1983, teaching all ages about nature, inspiring others to become naturalists and educating the community as a whole about a wide variety of nature and history topics,” said Scott Savage, board president.
“What stands out even more than her masterful knowledge of the subject matter, is her infectious enthusiasm and joy she has for her work,” he added.
Ms. High is the first and only person at Metroparks to hold the title Master Interpreter, and is among the longest-serving employees of the park system.
Her interpreter skills include teaching, writing, researching, story-telling and guiding.
She helps toddlers discover flowers and bugs and coaches inspiring naturalists to become experts on local ecology. From leading groups on trails to creating engaging and educational signs and displays, and writing magazine articles, she uses a broad array of tools to reach the widest audience of people, the park president continued.
“Perhaps her most significant achievement has been mentoring others, in the field and in the classroom, to ensure that her knowledge and love of nature spreads far and wide for the education of our community and the protection of our natural resources,” Mr. Savage said.
Other Business
In other business, the park commissioners:
•Authorized Allen Gallant, director of community development, to seek a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Community Oriented Policing Services-Hiring.
“We will be requesting funding to support the hiring of two full-time positions,” Mr. Gallant said, noting the request is for $250,000, and the program provides 75 percent of the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits for each officer over a three-year period.
•Amended resources and appropriations to reflect the receipt of donations and federal, local and other grants, and land acquisition. The new amounts are $108.7 million, resources and $92.5 million, appropriations.
•Approved a 5 percent increase in the contingency amount for repairs and replacement of the fire damaged maintenance building at Secor park.
Jon Zvanovec, senior project manager, explained that several change orders have been approved, and any future change orders “could result in an increase above and beyond the previously approved 10 percent contingency.”
Total construction cost is now anticipated to be $681,375 for an overall increase of $29,625.
•Entered into a lease agreement with Black Swamp Cattle Company to have cattle graze on a 30.1-acre area at Oak Openings Preserve.
The agreement calls for the Metroparks to erect a perimeter fence and provide a water supply. The company will stock the grazing area with cattle, provide a water line and establish internal grazing paddocks using electric fencing.
Metroparks will receive a single rent payment of $450,000.
The purpose of the program is to determine if the cattle can serve as an effective means of habitat management.
•Approved payables for March totaling $4.4 million.
The next park board meeting will be at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 17, in the Ward Pavilion at Wildwood Metropark, 5100 Central Avenue, Toledo, and is open to the public.
