AIA Toledo, the local affiliate chapter of the American Institute of Architecture, will present an evening program about the design of Toledo’s newest Metropark, Middlegrounds, Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in The Historic Lobby at the Oliver House, 27 Broadway, in downtown Toledo.

Chad Britnall, principal at SmithGroupJJR, and Shannon Hughes, program and interpretation manager at Metroparks, will outline the process of developing the urban park, including considerations and regulations that impacted the work; design decisions; coordination with clients and users; sustainability attributes; and park features.

Reservations: The program is free, but reservations are needed. Contact info@aiatoledo.org.

Located one mile from the heart of downtown Toledo, Middlegrounds is a 28-acre riverfront park beside the Maumee River. The former rail yard and industrial brownfield site has been restored into a vibrant, public waterfront with a trail system that bisects active and passive recreational spaces, picnic grounds and reestablished native habitats.

The park also has a unique stormwater system that filters, infiltrates and stores rainwater from the site and adjacent Anthony Wayne Bridge.

The first Metropark in downtown Toledo, Middlegrounds opened to the public in September.