For the first time in 20 years, Metroparks of the Toledo Area will sport a new logo.

The new logo, featuring an oak leaf within the letter M, was designed by North Design LLC of Springfield Township, and will be unveiled today during a presentation by executive director Steve Madewell to community leaders during a program on the park district's accomplishments in 2015.

The old logo — an oak tree encased in a box — had been in use since 1995.

Mr. Madewell also is to unveil a new redesigned website — MetroparksToledo.com — during the hour-long program, and talk about plans for this year including the grand opening of the Middlegrounds Metropark, west of downtown Toledo, and other planned projects in Lucas County.

The website, also designed by North Design, is set to go live today.

Mr. Madewell, who announced the logo and website changes to The Blade's editorial board Wednesday, said the number of visitors to the Metropark system surpassed 4 million for the first time last year.

Part of the increase, he said, can be attributed to three new parks that opened in 2015; Wiregrass Lake on North Eber Road, Westwinds on Geiser Road in the Oak Openings corridor between Secor and Oak Openings Preserve, and Fallen Timbers Battlefield in Maumee.

The logo will appear at entrances and other places as part of the park system’s annual sign replacement program, Scott Carpenter, Metroparks spokesman, said.

David Woodward, president and creative director at North Design, said the old logo was updated to be fresh and modern, and its design is less busy than the oak tree, making it screen-friendly for smartphones and tablets.

He also said the oak-leaf design is suitable and readable in branding formats for embroidery and other applications on clothing, hats, and other items.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.

First Published February 18, 2016, 5:00 a.m.