Downtown Toledo's Next Waterfront

Downtown land along the Maumee River is scheduled to be the region’s next Metropark. The new Middlegrounds Metropark is situated on a 28-acre site along the Middlegrounds area, from the Anthony Wayne Bridge southwest beyond Martin Luther King Plaza.

Originally used as a railroad and ship yard for freight coming into and out of the region. In the years since then, it’s been a dumping ground for building material and debris, and home to a luxury condo community. A large part of the Middlegrounds is used today as the world headquarters of Owens-Corning.

The Metroparks purchased the land in 2006 with grant funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. Since then, more than 8,000 tons of debris has been removed from the site in preparation for a future urban greenspace with restored natural areas and sweeping views of the largest river on the Great Lakes. 

Most of Toledo’s  bridges can be viewed from the Middlegrounds, as well as parts of the Downtown and East Toledo neighborhoods.

Completion of phase one of The Middlegrounds Metropark is scheduled for fall of this year, following a major renovation to the adjacent Anthony Wayne Bridge. The Rotary Club of Toledo, in celebration of its 100th year of service, is donating $300,000 to the project. A shelter named for the club will be part of a plaza area that will be included in the first phase of development.