Metroparks Toledo, TPS to associate on off-leash canine park

July 3 – Toledo Public Schools and Metroparks Toledo work together to transform the field between the Hawkins Elementary School and the Natural Science Technology Center into a public dog park.

It’s the latest collaboration between the school district and the park system as the Hawkins Elementary and Natural Science Technology Center are adjacent to the Toledo Botanical Gardens.

Metroparks Toledo officially took ownership of the 66-acre garden in 2019, though it had essentially operated the garden since 2006 when the city cut funding and made it one of the park district’s affiliated facilities. There’s a natural partnership between the park system and TPS, Metroparks spokesman Scott Carpenter said, and officials have been debating for several years upgrading the property around the botanical garden to take advantage of the schools and the neighborhood.

The leash-free dog park will span approximately 3.3 acres and have designated areas for large and small dogs, similar to the other Metroparks dog park in Middlegrounds in downtown Toledo.

“The metroparks plan to keep the old trees in place so dogs and visitors can enjoy them while they clear or trim the undergrowth,” reads the staff report of the Toledo City Plan Commission. The Commission will examine the application for a special use permit at its meeting on July 8th. If the application is approved, it will be sent to the Toledo City Council for consideration.

Mr Carpenter said the botanical garden is one of only two places in the Metropark system that doesn’t allow dogs – the other is an archery range – and an off-leash area near the garden will add value to the entire property. According to the planning commission’s report, neighbors are already using the space to let their dogs run, so it makes sense to formalize the space and install fences and litter bins.

His guess is that if the Middlegrounds dog park is a sign of it, it is being put to good use.

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“The downtown dog park has become very popular. Not only does it serve the neighborhood it was intended for, but it has also become a destination,” said Carpenter.

He noted that it is a public park and no membership is required. Therefore, users should adhere to the honor system and only bring neutered and neutered dogs that are up to date with their recordings.

Tom Dimitrew, Senior Director of Career Technology at TPS, said the dog park will complement the Natural Science Technology Center’s curriculum as it allows students in animal science and sustainability courses to gain hands-on experience in the community. TPS places increasing emphasis on professional graduates, and the more interactive a student’s experience with a prospective employer, the better.

Metroparks staff will help train students to become park guides who can talk about the natural environment, wildlife, sustainability and conservation. Students could also help set up agility classes in the park and collect data from the dogs they use.

Mr Dimitrew said the partnership aims to blur the property lines between the botanical garden, the school district and the neighborhood.

“We can use everyone’s resources to create a community space where students and adults can learn and experience science together, even outside of school,” he said.

First published July 3, 2021, 1:49 pm