Opening Play

Welcome to Opening Play at Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk
Presented by Buckeye Broadband

Friday, May 24 at 10 a.m.

Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk is a year-round destination with fun during all seasons. Our annual Opening Play celebration is a special day that marks the grand opening of some of our most popular warm weather attractions and activities. It’s the official kick-off to summer fun on the Glass City Riverwalk. Whether you’re looking to splash around, paddle down the river, or simply enjoy a beautiful walk by the water, there’s something for everyone.

What is Opening Play?

• All Water Play Features open at 10 a.m. including the Mini-Maumee Discovery Play [Details]
  The Mini-Maumee Discovery Play area is generously supported by Dana Incorporated 

• The Kayak Share Lockers at the Kayak Cove & Adventure Boardwalk open for Maumee River paddling [Details]
  The Kayak Cove & Adventure Boardwalk is generously supported by Mercy Health 

• The Ribbon roller concession opens full time offering equipment rentals inside Market Hall [Details]
  The Ribbon is generously supported by The Hylant Family Foundation 

• Play on the region’s biggest and best playgrounds, the Grosbeak and Prairie + Pollinator Discovery Play areas [Grosbeak] [Prairie Pollinator]
  The Prairie + Pollinator Discovery Play Area is generously supported by the Bob and Sue Savage Family 

• **NEW IN 2024** Introducing the all-new Rock Climbing Experience at the Mercy Health FitPark Climb – open every Wednesday through Friday near The Ribbon all summer long. [Details] 

• Expanded summer hours begin at The Garden by Poco Piatti with the best riverfront patio views in town. Open daily all summer long for lunch and dinner. Look out for new menu items and new treats in 2024. [Details] 

• All six cabanas at Cabana Village will free and open to all to use during our Opening Play celebration. Be sure to check out these cool, cozy rental cabanas and plan a summer or winter rental. [Details] [Children's Birthday Party Packages]

• We’ll host our first After-Hours Skate Party with a 90’s Skate with the Skittle Bots  |  8 to 11 p.m. |  Free Admission  | Roller Skate & Roller Blade Equipment Rentals Available – Limited Equipment will be rented first come, first served; Free if you bring your own equipment|  EVENT LINK

Wear Your Parks

• Visit the Jupmode Pop-Up Shop at Market Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and pick up some officially licensed Metroparks Toledo gear. A portion of every purchase of officially licensed Metroparks apparel goes back to our conservation mission and our work to protect the region’s natural resources. [Online Store]

Explore Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk

• Best views Check out the Sturgeon Point & Natural Resource Area, a unique plaza area overlooking the Maumee River with raised bed planters and native plantings surrounding a stoned seating area. [Map]
  The Sturgeon Point & Natural Resource Area is generously supported by the Family of Sam and Alice Carson 

Explore Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk

• Best views Check out the Sturgeon Point & Natural Resource Area, a unique plaza area overlooking the Maumee River with raised bed planters and native plantings surrounding a stoned seating area. [Map]
  The Sturgeon Point & Natural Resource Area is generously supported by the Family of Sam and Alice Carson 

• Find all of the Public Art Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk has an abundance of public art installations. Use the park map to try and visit them all:

- Beacon Tower  Generously supported by Owens Corning

- Slag Ladles Generously supported by The Cleveland Cliffs Foundation

- Rain Towers [Details] Generously supported by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation

- Main Street Bridge Murals [Video]

- *NEW* Field of Histories [Details] 

• Best Photo Spots Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk offers picturesque views along the mighty Maumee River. Here are a few of our favorite spots to capture the best moments – and don’t forget to tag us!

- The Adventure Boardwalk takes you over the Maumee River on a series of rope bridges, perfect for your next family photo

- The rooftop at the Glass City Pavilion offers a birds eye view of Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk and the best downtown skyline shot in town

- Sturgeon Point takes you up close and personal to the river, the National Museum of the Great Lake’s Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Veterans Skyway Memorial Bridge. 

Plan Your Event or Celebration at Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk

Your event, your way. Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk offers a variety of rental facilities, event lawns, cabanas, open air shelters and access to popular park attractions. The facilities on the Riverwalk provide a wide range of service options, from self-setup locations where you provide your own food and drinks, to comprehensive catering and hospitality services where the pros at The Garden by Poco Piatti can handle it all for you.  

See all event and hospitality options [Details].

What’s next at Glass City Metropark & Riverwalk

At just 22% of the project reaching completion, this is just the beginning! The Glass City Riverwalk will transform our riverfront with 300 acres of new and revitalized riverfront greenspace connected by five miles of multi-use trails spanning both sides of the Maumee River from Veteran’s Glass City Skyway to the Anthony Wayne Bridge. With more than 600,000 visits in less than a year, it is already becoming the place for our community to connect with trails and green space. Follow along with the progress and learn how you can get involved [Details].