The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund today announced its endorsement of the Metroparks Toledo levy campaign.
“We applaud Metroparks Toledo’s efforts to increase public access and acreage of quality natural space in Ohio,” said Nick Mandros, Northwest Regional Director for the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund. “We urge all Lucas County residents to vote yes on Issue 17. Passage of the park levy will allow Metroparks Toledo to make improvements in all of their existing 19 parks and embark on an exciting plan to develop a 5 mile multipurpose trail system along the Maumee River in Downtown Toledo. These efforts will contribute more than $1 billion in total anticipated economic impact to the Toledo region.”
Thanks to years of community support and investment, Metroparks Toledo now manages 19 parks covering more than 12,000 acres of parkland and trails in Lucas County. After opening 8 new parks since 2015, Metroparks Toledo now has a park located within 5 miles of every resident in Lucas County.
In recent years, Toledo’s metroparks have received national exposure and quickly are becoming one of America’s best park systems. Metroparks Toledo has become a destination for outdoor recreation for thousands of residents across northern Ohio and southern Michigan.
“This past year, the COVID-19 global pandemic has highlighted many significant benefits our local park districts provide to communities across Ohio,” said Mandros. “Importantly, our local park districts raise the overall quality of life for residents and provide a significant impact to local economies by creating jobs, increasing property values and reducing stormwater costs. Additionally, local parks play a critical ecological role in maintaining local water quality, the health of our soil, and capture carbon dioxide which helps fight climate change.”
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The OEC Action Fund seeks to protect and enhance the environment, health and economic viability, and democracy of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions. We are the statewide political voice for Ohio’s environment. We work to elect environmentally responsible candidates in Ohio and to pass park levies that expand access to public land.
For press inquiries: ebacha@theoecactionfund.org.