Metroparks Toledo is taking steps to beautify part of the former International Park with a new sculpture from a major artist.

It also is moving ahead with efforts to provide more recreational activities along the portion of its Glass City Riverwalk being laid in North Toledo, in part by adding enough green space in the historic Vistula neighborhood to form a small community park.

Those are the result of three resolutions approved by the five-member Metroparks Toledo Board of Park Commissioners at its monthly meeting Wednesday inside the Brookwood Area facility in southwest Toledo.

Each passed by a 5-0 vote.

One resolution identifies internationally known sculptor Blessing Hancock as the person the park district will pay to create a major piece of artwork in the area now known as Glass City Metropark Upriver-International Cove.

The future sculpture is envisioned as a potential landmark lighting up the east side of the Maumee River shoreline.

Although signage isn’t displayed yet, the former International Park — which Metroparks now owns — is being renamed Glass City Metropark Upriver. The site just north of it, which people have been calling Glass City Metropark, will be renamed Glass City Metropark Downriver, Scott Carpenter, Metroparks Toledo spokesman, said in a telephone interview after the meeting.

The International Cove area of Glass City Metropark Upriver is near the former International Park’s boathouse, he said.

The board’s approved resolution authorizes a not-to-exceed expenditure of $539,000 for the design, fabrication, and installation of Ms. Hancock’s custom artwork.

No general fund money is being used.

The project is being funded by private donations and a Metroparks Toledo Foundation grant, according to Matt Killam, Metroparks Toledo chief external affairs officer.

“The contract is through the Arts Commission [of Greater Toledo] and was a gift to our foundation,” he told The Blade.

Neither the artist nor her staff responded to interview requests.

But Mr. Killam said the type of sculpture she eventually does along the Maumee River waterfront will be based on ideas she gets from local residents.

The proposed theme is something that reflects visions of what makes Toledo’s heritage distinctive and “to tell the story of what made Toledo a city,” he said.

“This art piece will be the embodiment of that,” Mr. Killam said, adding that ideas will be solicited from the public in about 30 days.

Ms. Hancock’s most ambitious sculpture to date is a three-story, curved, stainless steel piece she did for the city of Nashville in 2024, called Loqui. A news release issued by her staff said her piece had the shape of an abstracted megaphone, and that it uses a sophisticated lighting system to illuminate the entertainment venue known as The Fairgrounds Nashville.

It was completed and made its public debut on Sept. 12.

Ms. Hancock designs her own pieces, then subcontracts the building process to various fabricators. She has completed more than 50 signature public art pieces worldwide, from Arizona to China, the news release says.

All of her works “feature a community engagement piece that connects the artwork back to the community it resides in,” according to her bio.

“We’re really excited to work with her on this project,” said Nathan Mattimoe, director of art in public places for the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. “She’s a really great artist.”

He declined to say more about her or the project for now, but said there will be more from the arts commission in the future.

“Art and nature just go together so well,” said Mr. Carpenter, referring to intermittent art projects throughout the park system in general. “It’s a great fit. For the Riverwalk, it helps build interest along the way.”

Also approved by the board were two resolutions that pertain to community engagement consulting services, one for Glass City Metropark Upriver and the other for the Glass City Riverwalk-Vistula Neighborhood.

Both are with Toledo Design Collective, the former for $36,300 and the latter for $165,496.

The consulting work for Glass City Metropark Upriver will include the International Cove Area where Ms. Hancock’s future sculpture will be erected, as well as other parts of the former International Park that can be redesigned.

Metroparks staff said in its memo that the $36,300 is an initial estimate, and that it expects to present a contract amendment for the board’s consideration in 2026 that will likely bring the total consulting fee for that site to $50,000.

The consulting services in the Vistula area will be from Cherry Street and the Martin Luther King Bridge, northerly, to the Craig Street Bridge, a project length of one mile.

Toledo Design Collective is to consider “multiple touchpoints with the community during the design process,” as well as other duties such as working with professionals “to collaboratively plan Vistula’s ultimate Riverwalk,” according to a board memo, which states the $165,496 sum includes a four-year extension of consulting services at $15,000 a year.

“This institution helps us connect with the community as a whole,” Mr. Killam said. “It helps us connect with all community stakeholders. One of the things that makes us great is we don’t assume we know everything.”

He said it’s another way of “crowdsourcing information.”

Details for the large area of green space along the Riverwalk in the Vistula area have not been determined, but Mr. Killam said he and other Metroparks officials envision something akin to a small, neighborhood park along the riverfront to help serve residents there.

First Published March 26, 2025, 8:08 p.m.