Though it’s been open for a while now, Glass City Metropark will have its grand opening celebration over the June 9-11 weekend.
A free Friday evening concert, a Saturday roller skating party, and a Sunday outdoor expo are among the planned festivities.
The event will serve the dual purpose of celebrating substantial completion of the project’s larger Phase 2, which has included the construction of Market Hall and the opening of a restaurant inside of it, The Ribbon roller and ice skating trail, nature-themed children’s play areas, art installations, and three miles of trails. Phase 1 included the Pavilion and sledding hill.
Glass City Metropark is the anchor of a roughly $200 million investment that Metroparks Toledo is making in the East Toledo and downtown areas along the Maumee River shoreline, including plans for the five-mile Glass City Riverwalk being phased in over the coming years along both sides of the river.
Later this year, the park district expects to break ground on the first East Toledo campground that will be built between the National Museum of the Great Lakes and Craig Memorial Bridge. It will allow families and other campers to stay along the river at an affordable price and engage in downtown Toledo activities a short drive away, such as a Toledo Mud Hens game.
Improvements to International Park are also in the park district’s future plans.
“The completion of Glass City Metropark is also the start of Glass City Riverwalk,” Dave Zenk, Metroparks Toledo executive director, said. “The park will be the hub of the five-mile greenway on both sides of the river. The next phases are already under way, and people will see continuous progress over the next several years.”
Scott Carpenter, Metroparks Toledo spokesman, said the board of park commissioners is expected on Wednesday to award a contract for murals to be painted on the two concrete abutments on either side of the new pedestrian bridge that connects Glass City Metropark and International Park.
The park district envisions “two different murals to bookend the bridge on those concrete abutments,” he said.
Glass City Metropark and its associated Riverwalk are the largest projects in Metroparks Toledo history. But the completion of Phase 1 and opening of that section of the park was intentionally soft in December of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
There have been a few large gatherings since then, such as the Glass City JazzFest the city of Toledo and others hosted on Aug. 28 and the recent crowds testing out the new skating ribbon in February.
But there hasn’t been an actual grand opening, so those will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. June 9.
That will be followed by the grand opening of The Garden by Poco Piatti, a new fast casual restaurant located inside Market Hall.
The free concert on Friday night will be headlined by Toledo’s own Nikki D & the Sisters of Thunder and take place on the lawn adjacent to the Pavilion. The gospel-soul band has opened in the past for Jack White & the Raconteurs in Detroit, and has performed at various festivals and churches. Bandleader Nikki Brown sings and plays a lap slide “sacred steel” guitar. She has performed at the Blues on Broadbeach Festival in Australia.
On Saturday, kids can climb the 40-foot-tall Grosbeak Adventure Tower or explore the new Mini Maumee water play and other nature-themed play areas. The Ribbon will open at 7 p.m. for the summer’s first roller skating party.
The outdoor expo will be at the park from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. There is no charge. Attendees will be able to try kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing and other activities offered by the Metroparks program staff.
Work also will continue on the Glass City Enrichment Center, 815 Front St., after the grand opening. A new community center is being carved from a building the park district acquired during the early stages of developing Glass City Metropark. The East Toledo Family Center is planning to offer expanded services there.
More details about the grand opening will be announced as the dates grow nearer, Mr. Carpenter said.
First Published April 25, 2023, 1:17 p.m.
