TOLEDO, Ohio — Metroparks Toledo's newest park - Howard Marsh - again received national honors, this time called "the biggest award yet" by the Metroparks' executive director.
Howard Marsh in Jerusalem Township has received the Innovation in Conservation Award by the National Recreation and Park Association.
The park system is competing with three finalists from other categories for the overall Best in Innovation Award and will be recognized at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore in September.
"This is the biggest award yet in a growing list of national honors for this project," said Dave Zenk, Metroparks Toledo executive director.
The Howard Marsh project involved the conversion of 1,000 acres of agricultural land near the Lake Erie shore back to coastal wetland habitat. This was the largest project in the 90-year history of Metroparks Toledo, and the largest wetland restoration in recent memory on all of the Great Lakes.
RELATED: Howard Marsh Metropark Fast Facts
The National Recreation and Park Association said the Innovation Awards recognize park and recreation agencies nationwide that have improved and strengthened their communities through innovative practices in park design, health and wellness, conservation and social equity.
Howard Marsh was the recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Award, an overall best of show honor, from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. The project was also the first place winner in a category for capital improvements over $1 million.
Howard Marsh Metropark serves as habitat for migrating birds and spawning fish. The park has six miles of hiking trail and six miles of water trail for kayaking, as well as a quarter-mile boardwalk and overlooks for observing a wide range of wildlife.