Every spring, bird enthusiasts from around the world flock to the south shore of Lake Erie for the annual warbler migration. Now, those birders will have another destination – a new Metropark.

In April 2018, Metroparks opened Howard Marsh, a 1,000-acre park with more than 600 acres of restored wetland near the lakeshore, benefiting not only birds and visitors, but will also taking a step toward improving the water quality in Lake Erie.

The park, on State Route 2 and Howard Road, has six miles of hiking trails and a five-mile stream that was restored for canoeing and kayaking.

Howard Marsh will be another jewel in a green necklace of local, state and federal properties protecting the south shore of Lake Erie, including Maumee Bay State Park – home to the largest birding festival in North American, the Biggest Week in American Birding – the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Metzger Marsh State Wildlife Area and Magree Marsh State Wildlife Area. Pearson Metropark in nearby Oregon also has a 300-acre restored wetland that has become a go-to spot for visiting birds and bird watchers.