The Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners held its monthly meeting Wednesday, June 17, in the Ward Pavilion at Wildwood Preserve. The meeting was livestreamed and a video is posted below.

Following a presentation by staff about promises kept by the park system over the last 10 years, Scott Savage, president of the Board of Park Commissioners, announced that Metroparks is starting a new chapter in its history.

“Our intention has been to create a park system that responds to the unique needs of our community,” Mr. Savage said, introducing a vision for the future.

The plan would improve existing parks and complete the Glass City Riverwalk, a five-mile greenway that would connect six Toledo neighborhoods on both sides of the Maumee River.

“The centerpiece for funding is a 2-mill property tax levy that we intend to place on the November ballot,” Mr. Savage said. ”Support for this step has been overwhelmingly positive, largely because this local levy investment will be leveraged in a number of ways.”

Grants and philanthropic giving would raise part of the funding to accomplish the goals, Mr. Savage said, adding that Riverwalk will attract private development valued at many times greater than the public investment.

“Preserving, protecting, and enhancing what we already have, which is some of the world’s most precious natural resources, and building upon our renewed commitment to connect more people to parks and greenspace will result in Metroparks being, hands down, the country’s best park system for you, your children, and your grandchildren,” Mr. Savage said.

Watch the board meeting in the viewer below.

"Promises Kept" presentation begins at 9:50 followed by remarks by Mr. Savage and other board members