Toledo Council Taking More Public Comment on Parks Plan

The Toledo City Council will take up a proposed parks and recreation plan again Nov. 18 after directing staff to revise references to synthetic turf at Memorial Field. The proposal, Ordinance 1437, would amend the city’s comprehensive plan and adopt its 2026 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The council did not take a final vote on the proposal at the meeting. The public hearing was closed, but the record was left open through Nov. 11 for additional written submissions.

During public testimony, a resident urged the city to pursue grants and consider additional trail connections, including routes along city-owned dikes.

Shannon Herman, representing the Toledo Summer Festival Board, asked how potential work at Memorial Field could affect the festival’s scheduling and use of the field. City staff said reservations are currently handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Mayor Tracy Mix, responded that the city will try to schedule the maintenance of the field during low usage times. "We want that field to be available for Summer Fest, Thursday Market, summer ball games and more and we want to work around that schedule."

The plan identifies maintenance of existing parks as a priority, including improvements to drainage, lighting, equipment and signs, as well as potential trail connections.

Staff said a feasibility study of Memorial Field would be an early step before decisions about future improvements. The plan included synthetic turf as a possible future option, which staff said could help preserve eligibility for certain grants. Staff emphasized that the city has no current plan to install artificial turf.

Council President Eric Chambers argued the reference should be removed, saying, “I think that that's a bug, not a feature.” Council members also discussed potential conflicts with Summer Festival and other events that use the field.

The council voted to direct staff to remove references to synthetic turf and replace them with sod, then return with a revised plan on Nov. 18. The council may consider additional public input before deciding whether to adopt the plan. Written public comment is open through November 11th. The plan can be found in the November 4th council minutes on the cities website.