TOLEDO, Ohio —
The Vistula Historic District riverfront will be getting a facelift soon.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Metroparks Toledo a $19 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant.
Most of the money will go to the Vistula neighborhood as a way to continue the riverfront revitalization project.
"It's Toledo's first neighborhood," Metroparks Toledo spokesperson Matt Killam said. "In 1842 is when it got established, and it needs some real support."
Killam said the area has been ignored for decades, but the money will go to adding green spaces to the land. He said there will be play areas for kids, benches and more trees. Wetlands will also be added, along with docks for boaters.
Some of the buildings that are already in the area will stay, but the plan is to have local artists decorate them to show the city's history, according to Killam.
Killam said 3% of the money will go to International Park to provide amenities and plants on the east side of the river.
The goal is to have five miles of multi-use paths along the riverfront completed by 2030. The path will connect six neighborhoods between the Anthony Wayne and Craig Memorial bridges.
As of right now, Killam said the project is 25% finished. The completed parts of the project have brought in $400 million of economic development to the area, according to Killam.
Toledo residents, like Helaina Krishna and her dog Magnolia, have enjoyed seeing the changes to the riverfront so far.
"I was excited to come to the park and to see what changes were made," Krishna said.
She said her dog likes going to the park to play and walk along the rope courses. Krishna said they go to different Metroparks for walks and it would always be nice to have more options.
"I'm definitely curious to see what kind of resources that will provide and what kind of environment that will give people to enjoy," Krishna said.
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