Toledo Secures $1,150,039 Grant for the Savage Park Revitalization Project

The Department of the Interior announced today a $1,151,000 grant award for the City of Toledo through its Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP). The grant will cover 50% of the cost of revitalizing Rev. H.V. Savage Park, Toledo's oldest city park, and aims to enhance public access to high-quality outdoor recreation and natural spaces in the Junction neighborhood.

"Securing this grant will allow the city to completely transform the Rev. H.V. Savage Park and its splash pad," Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. "For too long, this space has not met the needs of our community. This funding will make the park a vibrant, safe, and welcoming place for families and neighbors who rely on it for recreation and connection. Thank you to the National Park Service, Senator Sherrod Brown, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and the team of city employees who made this possible."

Central to the Savage Park Revitalization Project is the construction of a new splash pad, providing a fun and safe water play area for families and children and enhancing recreational opportunities in the park. In July, City Council approved the expenditure of $150,000 to design the proposed splash pad.

"We have been meeting with the residents in the Junction neighborhood for two years about implementing improvements to Savage Park. I am thrilled that the ORLP grant award will finally allow us to move forward with our plans to restore the park's status as a cherished community hub for gatherings and recreational activities," Joe Fausnaugh, Director of Parks and Youth Services, said.

This award will allow for more proactive stewardship and conservation of the park's grove of native oaks and the installation of green infrastructure will protect and activate the park's unique natural assets. The finished park will provide a range of new and improved outdoor recreation opportunities for more than 7,500 Toledoans.

Key components of the project include:

Facility Rehabilitation: The existing deteriorated pool will be demolished and replaced with a new open-air shelter, creating a versatile space for gatherings and events. Repairs and accessibility improvements will be made to play facilities and other park amenities, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of the community.

Enhancing Natural Spaces: Improvements will focus on the park's signature native oak grove, enhancing public access and usability. The project will incorporate nature-based solutions for stormwater management, promoting environmental sustainability while beautifying the park.

Educational Initiatives: Accompanying interpretive signage will provide educational insights into the park's natural features and the importance of green spaces in urban environments. This will foster a deeper connection between the community and their natural surroundings.

Community-Driven Design: Informed by more than five years of community engagement, this project is designed to address real and perceived safety risks while encouraging family-friendly activities and gatherings.

The City of Toledo will leverage contributions from the Owens Corning Foundation and the Mud Hens Minor League Baseball Organization and utilize Community Development Block Grant and capital improvement funds to fulfill the grant's 1-to-1 matching requirement.

Managed by the National Park Service and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nationally competitive ORLP program provides grants to assist communities with little to no access to outdoor recreation opportunities in urban areas. ORLP projects serve communities that have been determined to be underserved in terms of access to parks and recreation resources, and where there are significant populations of people who are economically disadvantaged.

The City of Toledo is dedicated to ensuring that this historic park not only meets current community needs but also remains a valuable resource for generations to come.

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