Scholarship recipients pose for a picture during a JA Scholarship Recognition banquet inside the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (TFP Photo by Stephen Zenner)
Recipients rewarded for academics, program participation
SYLVANIA– About 80 percent of college students switch their majors at least once, according to national studies. That lack of direction is something Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio strives to prevent by helping students develop a clear vision for their future before graduating from high school.
Courtney Baker, 18, a 2025 graduate of Toledo School for the Arts, is an example of how JA can help young people reach their goals and get on track for college and career.
She spoke at an Aug. 6 JA scholarship luncheon at Lourdes University, where she and nine other students each received $10,000 college scholarships for their academic excellence, participation in JA programs, and written essays reflecting on their achievements and goals.
The scholarships are for $5,000 for each of the first two years of college.
Courtney Baker, a JA scholarship recipient, speaks during a JA Scholarship Recognition banquet inside the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (TFP Photo by Stephen Zenner)
“At the beginning of this 2024-25 school year, I knew one thing: I wanted to be a surgeon. But that path felt terrifying! It’s so big, so unapproachable. I was pretty ready to just take a year and figure it out later,” Baker said.
When she attended a JA assembly for high school seniors, “something just clicked.”
“Something was pulling me” to join the organization, she said, even though “I didn’t know what I would get out of it.”
Baker signed up for as many site visits as possible to Mercy Health facilities.
“That was the best decision I made. My first visit was mind-blowing. I got to stand in an actual surgery – which I brag about all the time. I loved every second of it. I loved the people, the hospital, the entire event. Yes, I loved wearing scrubs. I got to look at the surgical tools. I got to see how they set up the beds. All of that seemed so much fun. At that moment I knew that surgery was where I wanted to go.”
She has enrolled in Mercy College’s four-year program to earn a bachelor of science degree in biology. After that, Baker plans to continue her education for nine more years to become a surgeon. She also plans to continue her hobbies of theater and dance.
Jim Pollock, the president of JA Inspire, speaks with Julia Simon, the event and marketing manager for JA Inspire, during a JA Scholarship Recognition banquet inside the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (TFP Photo by Stephen Zenner)
JA’s new 5th Year Program is the only one of its kind nationwide, with high school graduates living on the Lourdes University campus for a year while they “are deliberately discovering what they want to do next,” explained Jim Pollack, president of JA of Northwestern Ohio.
Students in the 5th Year Program spend a year participating in site visits, workplace experiences, and professional skill workshops with the goal of helping them refine their educational and career choices.
Ashley Edmond, a JA scholarship recipient, speaks during a JA Scholarship Recognition banquet inside the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (TFP Photo by Stephen Zenner)
Ashley Edmond, a 2024 graduate of Tiffin Columbian High School, said at the awards ceremony that she participated in JA’s online stock market competition during her senior year and came in second in regional competition.
“At the end of the school year we thought we were done with it, but then we realized there was no Ohio team for the national competition,” she said.
Edmond’s team, which included new scholarship recipient Ryan Arnold, ended up winning the national competition.
“The grand prize for winning that competition was to fly to Washington, D.C., and go to the student leadership summit that was held there by JA,” Edmond said.
She said her experience going to seminars and participating in JA programs gave her the confidence she needed to pursue a career in business. She is now studying for an administration degree at Bowling Green State University.
Matt Baker, a JA scholarship recipient, walks to the podium, past a laughing Julie Simon, the event and marketing manager for JA Inspire, during a JA Scholarship Recognition banquet inside the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (TFP Photo by Stephen Zenner)
Matthew Baker, a 2023 JA scholarship winner, is studying cyber security at Eastern Michigan University. He said when he was at Whitmer High School he had no plans to join JA, but his mother encouraged him to do so.
“I went to my first program, and I liked it,” he said. He participated in three internships and “now I’m doing cool computer things.”
Among his cyber security projects is devising ways to detect USB Rubber Duckies, which are hacking tools that “can really mess up your system.”
Baker said one lesson he learned after joining JA really stands out: “Listen to your mother.”
To learn more about JA scholarship opportunities, visit janwo.org.
TOLEDO – On Thursday, July 31, the ABLE League of Justice and UAW-NOLSW Local 2320 gathered in front of ABLE’s office on Jefferson St. in solidarity with over 70 percent of the employees seeking to unionize. The group has experienced resistance from management. Read more about it here.
Venyx is one local band that played at Party in the Park in downtown Toledo. (Courtesy photo by David Cichocki)
The concert series is off to a rockin’ start
TOLEDO – Party in the Park has gotten off to a great start, drawing on average between 3,500 and 4,000 people downtown for each Friday night event. But organizer Cheryl Hardy of ConnecToledo is just getting started.
“I think everybody’s pretty excited about what’s happening, but as I say to people all the time, there are plenty of things we’d like to improve on in the future. There are things we can add, things we can do…but there’s also plenty to celebrate,” Hardy said. “Let’s not forget to celebrate the wins because we really are doing some incredible things that we have never done before.”
(Courtesy photo by Danny Woodcock)
The free concerts in downtown’s Promenade Park started May 30 and continue each Friday through Aug. 29, spotlighting local bands such as the Skittle Bots, Arctic Clam, and the Beef Carvers. The entertainment has also included popular annual invents such as Toledo’s July 4 Fireworks Show and Jeep Fest, which ran from Aug. 1-3.
Keeping the local focus, beer and spirits from 10 local breweries have accounted for 50 percent of the sales at concerts, Hardy said.
A tribute to Elton John was featured Aug. 8 with Greggie and the Jets, and a drone show is scheduled for the final week along with a Garth Brooks tribute show. Hardy promised “a special delivery” from a skydiver to open the Aug. 29 event by carrying an American flag while descending into Promenade Park.
Nikki D and the Sisters of Thunder. (Courtesy photo)
For many Toledoans, the new downtown concerts bring back memories of the legendary Rally by the River series, which featured nationally known acts such as Foreigner, the Temptations, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Cheap Trick performing in Promenade Park from 1990 to 2007.
For Hardy, one of the highlights of this year’s concert series has been witnessing the joy of the musicians as they walk off the stage.
“All of our local talent, they just keep bringing it. They come down to the Party in the Park and are excitedly nervous about playing at that venue. And then when they get off the stage…” Hardy said, pausing because she was getting choked up. “…when they get off the stage they are hugging and they’re like, ‘We did it!’ They’re celebrating. And it’s so much fun to watch.”
Nicole Khoury, lead singer of Arctic Clam (and a Toledo Municipal Court judge), agreed that performing to thousands of music fans in Promenade Park was a very special night.
“There’s no better feeling as a musician than watching a large crowd collaborate with your performance,” Khoury said. “We had a great night on July 11th and loved being a part of a rebirth of Toledo history. As a Toledoan, I hope this continues to grow back to the exciting time it was back in the day!”
While music is a key ingredient, there’s much more to organizers’ goals for Party in the Park.
“Not only do we need people to come downtown and go into the bars and restaurants — and we are doing a great job of that — but we need to spread that out around downtown. We need to get people to live downtown, and we need to get people to come back downtown to work,” Hardy said.
“So we have three key economic drivers, and we really truly only touched on one of them for the 2025 season. As we continue the seasons, we’ll be adding different layers to this activation program to help reach all three metrics.”
The success of the 2025 season has made future Parties in the Park more likely.
“I’ve been thinking about next year since last year,” Hardy said. “Because this is such a layered approach, you have to prove some things the first year. And now that’s it’s proven it works, this is something that should continue, and I think everybody’s starting to talk about that.”
Along with ConnecToledo, Party in the Park organizers include the City of Toledo, Lucas County, Destination Toledo, Metroparks Toledo, and Downtown Toledo Improvement District, who invested a total of $320,000 in launching the series.
Lucas County Commissioners Pete Gerkin and Lisa Sobecki stand around Oliver Hazard frontman Michael Belazis, as he inspects the proclamation making August 16th Oliver Hazard Day during a Lucas County Commissioners’ Regular Meeting inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
A Hazardous Proclamation
TOLEDO – Two of the three indie-folk band members of Oliver Hazard were present at the Lucas County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday to receive the official proclamation declaring August 16th Oliver Hazard Day.
This day coincides with the music festival the band helped start in Waterville, where the band officially hails from.
Michael Belazis, frontman for the folk band Oliver Hazard, inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
“We tested out our first living room in Ottawa Hills, Ohio,” said Michael Belazis, the band’s frontrunner, as he gave a quick recap of Oliver Hazard’s first show. Belazis explained the band’s success as an organic growth caused by their fans’ initiative. “That one fan would turn into 35 fans,” Belazis said inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room.
The band who paid for their first guitar with an electric plug-in with an Accelerator Grant from the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, since then has taken off. Initially they played in living rooms, local venues and eventually worked their way to Bonnaroo, as they carved a niche in the space of soft, breathy folk music.
Michael Belazis, frontman for the band Oliver Hazard, crosses in front of Lucas County Commissioners Pete Gerkin, Lisa Sobecki and Anita Lopez during a Regular Commissioners’ Meeting inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerkin thanked the two members who were present, Belazis and Devin East,for remaining in the area after their success.
Oliver Hazard is short for Oliver Hazard Perry, also known as Commodore Perry. Perry was the Navy officer who led American forces at the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812, and he is also the namesake of Perrysburg. The band was happy to receive support from local government, while admitting this was the first time they had interfaced in person with county officials.
More information on Oliver Hazard Day music festival can be foundhere.
Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerkin, Michael Belazis, frontman for Oliver Hazard, Lisa Sobecki, Lucas County Commissioner, Devin East, band member of Oliver Hazard, Nova East (aged 1), Megan East and Anita Lopez, Lucas County Commissioner stand with the proclamation making August 16 Oliver Hazard Day during a Lucas County Commissioners’ Regular Meeting inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
Election Security
Lucas County then accepted a $10,000 grant from the Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, called the “2025 Elections Security Grant Award for Critical Infrastructure.”
Deputy Director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, Tim Monaco, answers questions from Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerkin during a Lucas County Commissioners’ Regular Meeting inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
Deputy Director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, Tim Monaco, was on hand to answer questions from the commissioners, but Gerkin seemed bothered by Monaco’s caginess.
“I can’t get into too much of the specifics,” Monaco said when Gerkin asked what the grant would be used for. “It would be in violation of the security directive if I get into the specifics on what is in the security directive in a public meeting.” Monaco said he could tell the commissioners what the funding is used for during an executive session, but not in public.
After a short while Gerkin relented.
Pete Gerkin, Lucas County Commissioner, inquires about the 2025 Election Security Grant Award during a Lucas County Commissioners’ Regular Meeting inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
“I’m always curious when we take money, and we don’t really know where it goes due to security and privacy,” Gerkin said, especially since, he said, the “Secretary of State said there’s little to no voter fraud in Ohio.”
All Monaco would say in a public space was that it was for “physical security” and “cybersecurity” updates dealing with things like voter registration and the physical security of the office of the Board of Elections itself.
Other items
The rest of the Commissioners’ meeting passed without particular note, adjourning after about an hour, and then the next meeting began at 2 p.m.
Lisa Sobecki, Lucas County Commissioner, starts a Lucas County Commissioners’ Regular Meeting inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
Early in the afternoon, only two of the Lucas County Commissioners, Lisa Sobecki and Anita Lopez, were present, and presided two agenda items, which were quickly finished.
Lucas County Engineer, Mike Pniewski, briefly told the remaining commissioners that there no longer needed to be a vehicle weight limit on Gibbs Road Bridge No. 5, because the bridge, over Ten Mile Creek, was being torn down.
Then Commissioners approved a private agreement for Private Sanitary Sewer and Private Water Supply for Otterbein Sunset Village Phase V in Sylvania Township and adjourned.
Scouts
Both meetings were attended by special visitors led by Bob Neubert, scoutmaster for Troop 66.
24 scouts were present on Tuesday to earn their citizenship in the community merit badge.
Scouts from all over Toledo led by Bob Neubert, scoutmaster for Troop 66, attended two Lucas County Commissioners’ Regular Meetings inside the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday August 5, 2025. Scouts did this as part of the requirements for their Citizenship in the Community merit badge. TFP Photo/STEPHEN ZENNER
“I bring about 20 scouts in every June, and 20 scouts in every August,” Neubert said.
“I do it at a Commissioners’ meeting,” he said. “Because I am a Lucas County employee. I work for the Lucas County Engineer.”
Part of earning the badge is an eight-hour service project. Neubert said, “We are going to be storm drain stenciling tomorrow, where they spray paint the catch basins that say dump no waste.”
TOLEDO — Homeowners may like the sound of lower property tax bills, but school and county officials are sounding the alarm that some reforms under consideration in Ohio could have a devastating impact on services.
The dust has yet to settle on several property tax changes that were included in the state’s biennial budget bill. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWineexercised his veto power on the four such provisions in the bill, but the Ohio House of Representatives returned to Columbus for a special session July 21 so Republicans could attempt to override three of those vetoes.
These included:
A measure that would eliminate local governments, school districts or other entities’ ability to propose replacement or emergency property taxes levies
A measure that would require certain additional tax levies to be included when calculating the 20-mill floor calculation that the state takes into consideration when distributing school funding
A measure that would grant county budget commissions the authority to reduce millage of voter-approved levies that the commission believes would lead to unnecessarily excessive revenue
Ultimately, Ohio House Republicans were only able to muster enough votes to override the first proposal in this list, and that move still requires the approval of 60 percent of the Ohio Senate.
The Toledo Public Schools Board of Education sent a letter last month to Rep. Josh Williams, Majority Whip, expressing strong opposition to all three provisions.
“These proposals would significantly erode local control, destabilize school funding, and override the decisions of voters who have historically supported strong public schools in their communities,” board members wrote in a joint statement. “If these provisions are allowed to take effect, districts like ours will face even greater challenges in delivering quality education to every student.”
The TPS Board of Education urged legislators to reject any effort to override these vetoes and instead collaborate with local leaders to protect the financial tools essential to public schools’ success.
The push for property tax reform
Several of the property tax reforms proposed in the state budget bill mirrored those found in House Bill 335, the Property Tax Relief Now Act that was introduced in June.
“Ohio’s property taxpayers are at a tipping point,” Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) said in sponsor testimony for the bill. Rep. Thomas pointed to a stalemate between the legislature and local governments over taking action to address spikes in what he described as “unvoted taxes” over the last five years.
One of the most dramatic changes HB 335 proposes is eliminating inside millage. Under the Ohio Constitution, each municipality is allowed to set this portion of property taxes without voter approval. By law, inside millage cannot exceed 10 mills, and none of the municipalities in Lucas County are at that maximum. A mil is $1 of tax for $1,000 of property value.
The inside millage rate for Lucas County is 2.00 and Toledo City is 2.50. The Lucas County Auditor’s office provides a list comparing local inside millage rates.
Outside millage makes up the other part of property taxes and usually represents the majority of a resident’s tax bill. Voters determine outside millage at the ballot box, and it includes levy support for schools, senior services, Metroparks, libraries and other entities.
Ohio enacted property tax reform in 1976 under House Bill 920 that was meant to keep inflation from increasing voted taxes. This means that when property values increase, outside millage cannot exceed the dollar amount that was originally passed at the ballot box and the effective millage rate goes down.
Inside millage is not regulated by House Bill 920 and does increase at a proportional rate to property values.
In testimony for HB 335, Rep. Thomas said the bill would provide $3.5 billion in direct property tax relief to Ohioans by eliminating the unvoted inside millage property taxes that go to counties, schools, villages and cities.
Representatives from TPS as well as the Lucas County Commissioners expressed alarm about the potential impact of this change in written testimony opposing HB 335.
The commissioners described inside millage as a constitutionally authorized and long-standing component of Ohio’s local government finance structure that has been in place since 1934.
“This revenue is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” the commissioners wrote in their testimony. “It enables us to carry out our legal obligations and provide the public services that our residents expect, rely upon, and are entitled to receive.”
The passage of HB 335 would result in a cut of more than 15 percent to the county’s general fund.
Lisa Sobecki, Lucas County Commissioner, ends a Lucas County Commissioners’ hearing at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday July 22, 2025. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
“You’re cutting $20 million from your budget. That’s huge,” Commissioner Lisa Sobecki told the Toledo Free Press. Sweeping cuts would result, spread across all county services including law enforcement, courts, elections, jail facilities and 911 emergency response.
Losing the assurance of inside millage as security could also result in a credit downgrade for the county, increasing borrowing costs for future debt-funded projects.
Ryan Stechschulte, treasurer and chief financial officer for TPS, and TPS Board vice president Chris Varwig also submitted testimony opposing HB 335. Stechschulte wrote that the district would lose $6 million in fiscal year 2026 and $12 million more the following year if the bill passed, requiring immediate and significant cuts. These would include closing schools, a reduction of 180 positions over two years and cuts to student services, intervention programs and extracurriculars.
Ryan Stechschulte, treasurer and chief financial officer for TPS, warned in testimony opposing Ohio HB 335 that the district would lose $6 million in fiscal year 2026 and $12 million more the following year if the bill passed. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)
In addition, the bill’s proposed ban on new emergency and substitute levies — which may pass as part of the state’s budget bill if the legislature’s veto override stands — would prevent TPS from renewing its current emergency levy, according to Stechschulte. He wrote that the district would be forced to place a new levy on the ballot in 2027. If that levy failed, the district would face an additional $15 million in cuts.
“This bill strips away local control, introduces fiscal volatility mid-contract and mid-budget cycle and puts our most vulnerable students at the greatest risk,” Stechschulte wrote. He urged legislators to “take the time to develop a collaborative solution that provides meaningful tax relief while protecting the future of Ohio’s children.”
Finding the right balance
Why the strong push for property tax reform now? Brian Dicken, who serves a vice president for advocacy and strategic initiatives for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, speculates the movement is partly driven by recent increases residents saw from property reevaluations.
“Property taxes in Ohio are incredibly complicated,” said Dicken. “At the state level, there’s probably close to 20 different pieces of legislation that deal with some aspect of property tax reform.”
Brian Dicken, vice president for advocacy and strategic initiatives for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, speculates the push for property tax reform is partly driven by recent increases residents saw from property reevaluations. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)
In his role, Dicken coordinates interactions with elected officials and leads policy development on behalf of the chamber’s 2,000 members. From a business perspective, Dicken said making sure the tax burden is balanced is always important.
“We understand that if we want to have services like police and fire, we have to pay for that. But we also want to make sure that there’s not an overly burdensome tax structure that makes it difficult for businesses to be successful.”
The business community also takes an interest in entities that serve the greater public good such as schools. A local school system has a big impact on talent attraction and retention and workforce development. “Without a prepared workforce, our community suffers significantly,” Dicken said.
The chamber has not taken a stance on any of the specific reforms under consideration at this point, but Dicken said whatever happens needs to be clear and easy to understand.
“There’s a lot being discussed right now in terms of tax reform across the state,” he noted.
When Gov. DeWine vetoed the property tax provisions in the state budget bill, he announced a task force was to be created to study the property tax reform issue and make recommendations to the General Assembly. The group is expected to include lawmakers, state officials, school and community representatives and property tax experts.
This comes on the heels of a bipartisan legislative task force that extensively studied property tax reform and issued a report with 21 recommendations last year.
“I think the fact that there’s been so many studies shows the complexity around the issue,” said Dicken.
He said local entities need to have time to react and plan if the funding formula changes.
“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got the right balance,” Dicken added. “You don’t want to overtax your communities because that’s not good, but at the same time you’ve got to make sure that those basic needs are met so that way we have a safe, vibrant community. And that’s always the biggest question.”
Pete Gerken, Lisa Sobecki and Anita Lopez, all Lucas County Commissioners during a Lucas County Commissioners’ meeting while they talk about a proposed new jail in their Hearing Room at 1 Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday July 15, 2025. TOLEDO FREE PRESS/STEPHEN ZENNER
TOLEDO – Though Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki would have preferred for the plans for a new county jail to proceed, the Board of Commissioners decided to proceed with a facility condition assessment of the current downtown site.
Jaden speaks with Sobecki about this issue in the most recent episode of Behind the Byline.
Garrett Moots collected water samples at the shoreline on July 5, 2024. Even with all the green foam on the beach, testing showed lower toxin levels than expected. (Courtesy Photo/Garrett Moots)
OREGON — We’re no strangers to algal blooms in Northwest Ohio. Most of us remember 2014, when a toxic bloom shut down Toledo’s water supply for nearly three days. Since then, all eyes have been on the water. But what about the sand?
That’s the question University of Toledo researchers asked — and the answer may surprise you.
“Everyone’s focused on the water, and for good reason,” said Dr. Von Sigler, professor of environmental microbiology at UToledo. “But we thought, if the water has toxins and waves are constantly crashing onto the beach, what happens to the sand?”
Sigler led the study, recently published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research. The research revealed that microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria during harmful algal blooms, can accumulate in the wet sand of Maumee Bay State Park and linger for up to three weeks.
Fieldwork, sampling and analysis were carried out by Garrett Moots, a Ph.D. student in ecology and organismal biology, as part of his graduate research under Sigler’s mentorship.
“We’re not saying don’t go to the beach,” Moots said. “But if there’s a ‘no swim’ sign, follow it. Those toxins in the water are likely in the sand too.”
On August 4, 2024, heavy accumulations of algal scum, mat, and wrack were photographed washing ashore in a Maumee Bay cove. These thick patches tend to pile up near the sides of the coves, where wind and waves push everything ashore. (Courtesy Photo/Garrett Moots)
Digging into the sand
In summer 2022, Moots collected weekly sand and water samples from three man-made coves at Maumee Bay. The sites were chosen to reflect typical beach conditions while remaining manageable for a solo researcher.
Sampling occurred each afternoon around 3 p.m., during peak beach hours. “We’d scoop sand from the foreshore, where that wet strip where waves meet land, and take it back to the lab,” Moots said.
Using the same testing method as Toledo’s water treatment plant, the team measured microcystin levels in parts per billion. In over half the samples, toxin levels in the sand were higher than in the water — sometimes seven times higher. In a few cases, concentrations exceeded 29 parts per billion, more than triple the EPA’s recreational water threshold.
The study also found that shallow surface sand averaged twice the microcystin concentration of deeper sand, suggesting beach sand can serve as a toxin reservoir. But one of the most striking findings was just how much levels varied only feet apart, a challenge Siglersaid stems from natural “heterogeneity,” which makes the issue harder to predict or monitor.
Captured on July 5, 2024, a dense algal mat lining the shoreline at Maumee Bay State Park. Despite the vivid green appearance, toxin levels that day were just above the advisory threshold, showing that what you see isn’t always what you get. (Courtesy Photo/Garrett Moots)
Should we be concerned?
Here’s the good news: microcystin doesn’t easily absorb through healthy skin.
“Unless you’re eating handfuls of sand — we’re looking at you, toddlers — the risk is low,” Moots said.
“The threshold for concern in water is eight parts per billion, assuming you’re accidentally swallowing about three tablespoons, or 100 milliliters,” he explained. “You don’t usually ingest sand the same way.”
Still, the team advises rinsing off after direct contact with wet sand — especially for those with scrapes, cuts or prolonged exposure. “The skin is a great barrier,” Sigler said. “Microcystin is a large molecule, too big to pass easily through; however, there are still chemical quirks we’re exploring. So as a precaution, wash up.”
If a rash develops, it’s likely mild and short-lived. “This isn’t putting you in bed for a week or sending you to the ER,” Sigler said. “It’s maybe some irritation, but there are no severe symptoms.”
More than just microcystin
Maumee Bay’s geography makes it especially prone to build-up. Its shallow, slow-moving waters and embayed coves can trap algae and toxins near the shore. Nearly 40,000 people visit the beach each year.
“There are only four to six weeks where this is even an issue,” Siglersaid. “The rest of the year, Maumee Bay is a very pleasant place to be. It’s a gorgeous beach and a fantastic natural space.”
Moots agreed. “Lake Erie takes a lot of criticism,” he said. “But Maumee Bay has wetlands, open space and natural beauty that makes it really special.”
What’s next?
Now continuing his dissertation, Moots is studying how factors like sunlight, organic matter and wave action affect how long microcystin lingers in sand.
“This study is just the first step,” Moots said. “There’s so much more to understand about how these toxins behave in different conditions.”
While the current research focused on Maumee Bay State Park, the team may expand to other beaches such as Luna Pier and Sterling State Park if conditions allow.
Ultimately, both researchers want to raise awareness, not fear.
“This isn’t a public health crisis,”Sigler said. “We’re just shining light on something that hasn’t been looked at. You’re probably not going to get sick from beach sand. But a quick rinse after your visit? That’s just good practice.”
So go ahead — pack your towel, bring the sunscreen and enjoy the sand. Just keep an eye out for the signs.
Bringing the Italian Football League Championship to Toledo for the second time (the first was in 2023) shows the global growth and outreach of the RGP.
“RGP and JobsOhio were the main sponsors for the entire (Italian Football) league for the last two years, and for very little money,” said Dean Monske, president and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership.
“We had big banners that ran like 40 yards along the field. Every single game was televised throughout the entire country and every commercial, every break, everything had the RGP Northwest Ohio logo up on the screen,” he said.
The goal was to promote Northwest Ohio and encourage Italian businesses to consider doing business in this area.
“The more connections you have, and the higher levels you have them, the more credibility you get and the more companies – which is our ultimate goal – are going to say, ‘You know what? I want to talk to those guys.’”
International firms building or expanding in Northwest Ohio make up about a third of the RGP’s success stories, while the other two-thirds come from investments by businesses in Ohio and across the United States.
“We average $3.2 billion each and every year in capital investment on 115 projects,” Monske said. “And capital investment on those 115 projects creates 4,200 new direct jobs – not spinoffs, not fuzzy math, those are direct jobs for those 115 projects.”
According to RGP’s 2024 Annual Report, 2,468 new jobs were created, 14,539 jobs were retained, $5 billion in capital investments and 125 new projects were built in Northwest Ohio last year.
Those numbers include $93 million in capital investments and 124 new jobs for National Electrical Carbon Products in Fostoria, and 50 new jobs and $9 million in capital investments for Creative Liquid Coatings in Montpelier, Ohio.
IBC Properties, a Toledo-area real estate developer, recently announced a $10 million renovation of the former Spicer-Dana manufacturing plant on Bennett Road. The historic 400,000-square-foot building had been vacant for decades and condemned by the City of Toledo before being saved by the RGP’s collaboration with IBC.
Dean Monske. (TFP Photo/David Yonke)
Another recent high-profile success story for RGP, working with JobsOhio, was landing an $800 million project with Meta – the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms – to build an AI-optimized data center in Wood County.
“The guys from JE Dunn, the general contractors on that project, were invited to the ground-breaking announcement,” Monske said. “They said they had never been invited to one of those types of events. They were so excited. And it’s great because everyone is helping to make it all happen.”
The Regional Growth Partnership of Northwest Ohio has been around more than 30 years, starting as a government branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. But the statewide and national economic development scene started to change in the early 1990s, Monske said, when RGPs started popping up all around the country.
In order to be competitive, the local RGP decided it needed to go private because businesses that were looking to build or relocate were could not afford to have their plans made public before the deals were completed.
Monske said $9.3 million in private funding was arranged for a five-year commitment to launch the new RGP in 2005-06.
Monske had been running the Oregon Economic Development Foundation for five years and was hired by the RGP as vice president in 2006. He has been the organization’s president and CEO since 2011.
The local organization, which has 17 employees, receives a third of its annual funding from more than 100 private-sector companies in Northwest Ohio, and the other two thirds from JobsOhio, the statewide private economic development agency founded by then-Gov. John Kasich in 2011.
There are six other RGPs across Ohio, divided by regions.
Monske said the NW Ohio RGP reaches out to companies to promote local investment, but as its reputation grows, an increasing number of companies are approaching RGP officials each year.
“We’ve done a really good job of communicating the strengths and assets of the region to a national audience and an international audience,” he said.
Some of the larger corporations are conducting up to 70 deals a year, he said, “so we want to make sure we’re really good friends with them and that they know the assets we have in Northwest Ohio.”
The RGP keeps a list of sites that would be well-suited for various types and sizes of companies. All of the state RGPs get referrals from JobsOhio for companies that are considering a local investment.
“It’s a two-way street of people reaching out to us, and us being proactive in communicating what we have here,” Monske said.
“I think we always have to work harder than Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati because they’re better known… We have to work a little smarter and a little harder just to get the same attention.”
The RGP’s sponsorship of the Italian Football League has opened doors for Italian companies to bring jobs to Northwest Ohio.
“We’re working on three specific projects with three Italian companies that have happened because of this the last two years,” Monske said.
He credited the efforts of Paul Zito, vice president of international development at the RGP, for building relationships with Italian business and government officials. Zito makes about six international trips a year to promote Northwest Ohio.
More than 6,000 people are now employed by Italian companies operating in Northwest Ohio, and five more Italian firms are discussing local investments.
In the last two years, RGP officials have given presentations to more than 100 Italian business representatives at forums held in Rome, Florence, Bologna and Varese, according to the RGP website.
“International work is hard,” Monske said. “It takes time to find something, to get someone interested, to make it happen. It’s a lot more work, time and effort.”
He said the RGP is apolitical, but the organization is keeping up with the recent tariff changes because they will impact economic development in Ohio and elsewhere. Tariffs affect the prices of imports and exports as well as the costs of equipment and tools.
“I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on; we’re going to talk about things from an economic development standpoint…When things like this happen it really makes for some good dialogue to help those companies, to understand how they’re being affected and then look for tools to help them.”
Monske said tariffs are just the latest issue the RGP has had to deal with.
“This whole process is bigger than just the tariffs. That’s just one factor. Companies will always make the decisions, as we do, based on the rules they have to work with. And we’re going to make the best decisions we can.”
An artist’s digital recreation of the maximum northernmost moonrise at the Octagon Earthworks. (Artwork provided by Ohio History Connection)
Upcoming lunar event offers unique connection to history and more
NEWARK, OHIO — Being in the presence of 2,000-year-old architecture is rare, especially in the U.S. This past January, that experience got easier for any Toledoan willing to take a day trip down to Newark, Ohio to visit the Octagon Earthworks, a complex of earthen barriers which create a unique connection to the natural world.
For the past 100 years, the site had been used as a golf course by the Moundbuilders Country Club, which limited the site’s visitors mostly to those willing to pay dues and play golf, only offering two days a year for public visitation.
In 2023, the Octagon Earthworks, along with five other sites called the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, were deemed to be a World Heritage site by UNESCO, a designation shared by the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids at Giza. The activists, educators, academics and everyday citizens who made this possible went on to work with the country club to buy them out of the remainder of their lease on the land for $5.5 million in 2024.
Now the location is open to the public seven days a week, with guided tours provided Wednesday through Sunday.
The site consists primarily of earthen walls approximately five feet high which form a 20-acre circle connected by a hallway to a 40-acre octagon. Six of the octagon’s walls are disconnected providing entrances, each of which has a smaller “barrier” or “loaf” mound which blocks the opening from view when a visitor stands in the middle of the structure, creating a consistent horizon line across the entirety of a visitor’s line of sight.
A map of the Octagon Earthworks provided by Ohio History ConnectionThe tour group walking along the corridor between the circle and the octagon. Pictured from left to right: Heather Liming, Adelle Faulkner, Ralph Slater, Andrew Selse, Cynthia Slater, and Becca Kelly. (TFP Photo/Spencer Myers)
“When kids tour the site, I have them stretch out their hand and trace the tops of the mounds surrounding them,” said interpreter Becca Kelly on our tour of the Earthworks. Doing so shows that the designers measured the walls not from their base, but instead by sea level.
This sense of a horizon, along with the entrances, is necessary to create a sense of an interior.
“Looking around, you can feel that you are, in this moment, closed in by these walls,” Kelly said, encouraging the group to sit with that sense of being inside a structure despite it not being enclosed by walls leading up to a ceiling.
To maintain that interiority, visitors must not walk over or climb the mounds. Doing so also guides visitors along what interpreters believe are the intended pathways of the original Hopewell designers.
Working in collaboration with Indigenous partners, interpreters believe the earthworks were used as a gathering place for religious and cultural ceremonies. Artifacts like obsidian traced to a caldera in Yellowstone found in mounds in Chillicothe indicate that visitors came from all over the continent for these events.
Additionally, the Octagon Earthworks lack of items indicate that the site was revered.
“What’s interesting about these sites is that they were clean. We have little evidence of trash piles. They were pretty much cleaned out,” said Andrew Selse, a tour guide from Ohio History Connection. This sets the site apart from areas used for living or trade as those would have included more evidence of waste disposal and other signs of everyday life.
Evidence for the core events held at the earthworks is shown in its layout, as research has shown the walls, entrances, and corridor of the structure align with the 18.6 year cycle of the moon. At the core of this design is the structure’s alignment with the maximum northern moonrise, which runs through the entirety of its center.
Diagram showing how the geometry of the earthworks aligns with the moon. (Provided by Ohio History Connection) Tour guide Andrew Selse displaying a diagram of the maximum northern moonrise aligning with the Octagon Earthworks. (TFP Photo/Spencer Myers)
Because of the mathematical precision required for this design, UNESCO describes the site as “a masterpiece of human creative genius.”
In order to become a World Heritage site, the earthworks needed to meet only one of ten possible criteria. According to Jennifer Aultman, Chief Historic Sites Officer for Ohio History Connection, the easiest to prove for the earthworks was criteria 2: “to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.”
The site could have received the same World Heritage designation based on just this criteria, but Glenna Wallace, Chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, and other organizers worked with UNESCO auditors to ensure it also met criteria which connected it to the genius of its designers.
Visitors to the earthworks will notice vestiges of the country club including golf club patterned carpet lining the visitor’s center, raised earth to tee off, shorter varieties of grass of old putting greens, and sand traps dotting the premises.
Semi-playful signs prohibiting golfing dot the Earthworks and the visitors center. (TFP Photo/Spencer Myers)
Before the transfer of ownership, the Country Club made those not interested in paying dues or playing golf less likely to visit, even if they grew up right next door like Selse.
“Growing up in the area, we knew that it existed, [but] the Octagon was much less talked about and much less visited because it was a private country club. So I’d never been here until I got the internship,” he said.
Despite spending time at the nearby Great Circle mound as an event space and recreation area, Selse still felt the connection to its Indigenous designers was not communicated.
“[Unlike the country club], the great circle, that’s a public park, and so growing up, I would go and eat my Chipotle in the parking lot there, throw Frisbees [and] have a grand old time hanging out. Graduation parties were done in the pavilions, but the history of it wasn’t really talked about or taught a whole lot at all, even in the schools. We knew there was a Native American presence in the area back in the day, but it wasn’t really taught in school at all, just how significant it was,” he said.
Ohio History Connection is hoping to change that by focusing resources on K-12 field trips and public education. According to Neil Thompson, Manager of Media and Public Relations with Ohio History Connection, “before January 1, there really were no school field trips to the Octagon.
“We have hosted many school field trips during the spring and will continue to do so whenever schools are in session or as part of summer camp/day care groups. We are so excited to have students visiting the Octagon to learn about ancient Ohio history!” he said.
Kelly, who also grew up in the area in nearby Dayton, appreciates being able to spread the story of the Earthworks to the public.
“Being the interpretive supervisor, I get to tell the story, right? And that is my job, to tell the story [to everyone] from cradle to grave. So I get to teach really young all the way up to old and I have the honor and privilege to be able to tell that story.”
Although it might be tempting to erase this troubling part of the Earthworks past, Ohio History Connection’s first order of business is ensuring everything is recorded.
“We’re first going to catalog everything on the property the same way we received. Every sand trap, bush, tree and putting green will be mapped before they are changed or removed,” said Kelly. This mapping process is being aided by two international interns from UNESCO: Subika Manandhar from Nepal and Marnie Davies from Australia.
This international coalition of researchers, architects, academics and educators parallels the global reach of those who choose to make the trip to see the Earthworks firsthand. According to Thompson, the Octagon Earthworks has seen visitors from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom in just the first five months of this year.
Cynthia Slater, a visitor who came from Connecticut with her husband Ralph to tour the site, was intrigued by the still unanswered questions surrounding the Earthworks and the people who made them.
“There are so many moving pieces to put together,” she said.
Slater, who has also traveled to see Stonehenge, recommends doing some research before visiting, but also allowing for some of the mystery to be a part of your enjoyment.
“The size of all this and the fact that so many people came here on the same day is amazing. I think you should try to know some things before you come here to really appreciate it.”
Coincidentally, this year marks not only the transfer of ownership of the Octagon Earthworks, but also the maximum northernmost moonrise which comes only every 18.6 years.
According to Thompson, there will be two public events to appreciate and learn more about the moonrise on October 11 from 9-11 p.m. and November 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Both will be at the Octagon located at 125 N. 33rd St., Newark, Ohio.
“The evening will begin with a talk introducing the Hopewell Culture and the period in which the earthworks were created and a brief explanation of the 18.6 year lunar cycle. After the talk, we will journey into the center of Observatory Circle to witness the moon rise at its northernmost point through the avenue and gateways that connect the Octagon to the Observatory Circle,” Thompson said.
Although the event will be open to the public, registration is required and attendance is limited due to parking restrictions. Attendees are encouraged to carpool.
Because the event is focused on paying attention to the night sky, visitors should bring lowlight or red light sources to preserve night vision and cut down on light pollution along with chairs, blankets, and other items to make themselves comfortable outside. There will be a short, quarter mile walk along uneven ground and pathways through the park at night.
TOLEDO – On any given day, downtown Toledo buzzes with sports fans, office workers, and residents going about their lives. But behind the energy and excitement lies a quieter frustration… $55 fines for parking violations that begin with a 25-cent misstep. For those who live, work, or rely on state services downtown, the dreaded yellow ticket on the windshield has become an unfortunate part of life. Now, a new state law aims to curb some of these penalties.
A recent investigation into parking ticket practices in downtown Toledo has sparked discussions about potential racial and economic bias, and violations of the8th amendment’s excessive fines clause. Some critics argue that the city’s parking enforcement disproportionately impacts low-income residents and communities of color, particularly those using state services or living in Section 8 housing near Downtown Toledo.
Recent legislation
House Bill 29, passed on April 9, 2025, eliminated driver’s license suspensions for unpaid fines and fees. It also effectively ended Ohio’s DETER program, which had allowed the BMV to block vehicle registrations over unpaid parking tickets. Parking violations, once falling into a gray area as civil infractions, can no longer result in state imposed license or registration holds. This major shift pushes the burden of enforcement back onto local measures like towing, impoundment or collections.
Ohio House Bill 29 effectively closed that murky loophole where civil infractions like parking tickets once fell between the cracks. Before this reform, because parking tickets were not handled in criminal court, they largely escaped the kind of judicial oversight that might weigh whether fines were excessive or consider someone’s ability to pay.
That gray area let local governments leverage state tools like registration holds to collect debts with little scrutiny. With the DETER program dismantled, that avenue is now off the table, which is a meaningful win for drivers who faced losing their ability to legally drive over relatively minor fines.
On the other hand, it also raises the question of whether cities like Toledo will rely more heavily on other penalties, such as towing or sending debts to collections, shifting the burden rather than truly reforming an inequitable system.
The use of towing to collect unpaid parking fines, while seemingly lawful, still raises concerns about whether these policies are being used to generate revenue at the expense of vulnerable residents.
A curious parallel emerges when we consider recent corruption scandals in Ohio’s energy sector. At first glance, these issues seem worlds apart. However, both share a common thread of systematic mismanagement and lack of accountability that disproportionately impacts low-income communities.
In both scenarios, public entities capitalize on the financial hardship of those who have little means to fight back. Whether it is inflated utility rates or excessive parking fines, these systems create an unfair burden on the same people: the economically disadvantaged. Meanwhile, the profits continue to flow into government coffers or private corporate pockets.
How much money has the city received from metered parking tickets?
According to Holly Kemler the Director of Communications for Toledo Port Authority, “Changes to the current metered parking structure went into effect January 2021 following approval by Toledo City Council in June 2019. The changes were to be implemented in 2020 but were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The average meter violations revenue for the past three years (’21-’23) is $264,329. Please note, these dollars go back into the operations of the parking system for capital improvement projects at the parking garages and for on-street meters. In addition, ConnecToledo is granted up to $100,000 each year from net revenues, which funds are re-invested into downtown Toledo development. Any remaining excess net revenue is then split 50/50 with the City of Toledo and the Port Authority. Over the past three years, the Port Authority has received minimal revenue from parking operations.”
Do metered parking fines violate the 8th Amendment?
What qualifies as an excessive fine is typically determined by a judge. However, when it comes to minor infractions, like metered parking tickets, these cases often bypass judicial review, creating a loophole. This gap can be exploited by local governments who impose punitive fines that might otherwise be deemed unconstitutional if evaluated in court.
Toledo is not alone in facing these concerns. Similar issues have arisen in jurisdictions around the country. One notable case involves Public Justice, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization, which intervened in City of Seattle v. Long.
“We filed an amicus brief with the Washington Supreme Court on behalf of Steven Long, a vehicularly housed man who was charged over $500 in towing and impound fees for a minor parking infraction. The lower court held that the fine imposed was not excessive, even though Steven was indigent and had only $50 to his name. Our brief argued that, under the Excessive Fines Clause, is necessary to consider a defendant’s individual circumstances, such as ability to pay when imposing a fine.
In August 2021, the State Supreme Court agreed with our brief and held in a unanimous decision that the Excessive Fines Clause requires consideration of a defendant’s ability to pay. The Long court was also the first court ever to hold that impoundment and towing fees can constitute a “fine” subject to the Clause’s protections.”
In another case, Timbs v. Indiana established that the 8th Amendment’s prohibition on excessive fines applies to states. In this case, Tyson Timbs, convicted of drug charges in Indiana, faced $1,200 in court costs and fees. However, officials attempted to confiscate his $35,000 Land Rover – permanently. The Indiana Supreme Court ruled unanimously that this fine was excessive, and the 8th Amendment applied to states.
Racial biasconcerns
Columbia Law School professor Edward Morrison did a study called“Explaining Racial Disparities in Consumer Bankruptcy,” and used the 2011 Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel‘s policy to go after unpaid parking tickets and fines as the basis. What he found was that the policy correlated with large increases in Chapter 13 bankruptcies throughout the city, with the Black community being the hardest hit.
Is there evidence that the same thing is happening in Toledo?
Since 2021, Chapter 13 bankruptcies in Toledo have surged, reflecting a concerning post-pandemic trend. In the Ohio Northern District Court, Chapter 13 filings rose from 170 in 2021 to 382 in 2024—an annual increase of 25 percent.
Overall, bankruptcy filings have also spiked, with increases of 16 percent in 2023 and 13 percent in 2024, marking the largest year-over-year growth since the district began tracking data in 2015.
While the aftermath of COVID-19 restrictions may skew these figures, the upward trajectory raises significant concerns. The timing of the increase in bankruptcies coincides with the revised on-street parking policy, which was enacted on Jan. 4, 2021.
These policy updates came during the heart of Covid-19 lockdown, and economic stimulus checks. Many people were working from home, and if those individuals lived in Downtown Toledo, the parking situation became even more challenging.
What effect did that have? Economists say it is hard to tell. The pandemic resulted in a sharp decline in filings, largely due to courts processing less cases, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Once this relief expired, bankruptcy fillings began to increase but still remained lower than pre-pandemic numbers.
📌 What the data suggests
There’s a strong correlationbetween the April 2022 enforcement and the sharp increase in Chapter 13 filings, from 2021 to 2023:
Chapter 13 bankruptcies more than doubled (170 → 362) during this window.
While correlation is not causation, this jump coincides with the period following the stricter metered parking enforcement.
Chapter 13 is often used to restructure debts like traffic/parking fines, which makes this trend particularly relevant.
One point of contention is the placement of metered parking locations near Section 8 housing. A review of Toledo’s urban planning data reveals that a significant number of metered parking spaces are situated within a short radius of these low-income housing units. While many such complexes offer some garden style parking, residents who drive often rely on street parking, leaving them vulnerable to fines they can scarcely afford. This creates an added burden for households already grappling with economic challenges.
Locations of metered parking locations downtown Toledo. Location of Section 8 housing units downtown Toledo.
Access to state services downtown
Adding to the issue is the placement of metered parking in downtown Toledo, particularly near government buildings and state service centers. Residents visiting these offices for essential services, such as applying for benefits or attending court hearings, frequently face parking fines. The lack of accessible, free parking near these facilities disproportionately affects low-income individuals who cannot easily absorb the added expense.
Government services near metered parking
Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
USPS Post Office
One Government Center
James M. Ashley and Thomas W. L. Ashley U.S. Courthouse
Toledo Parking Violations Bureau
The Courthouse
The cost of a quarter (punitive fine structure)
The fine structure further complicates the issue. Initial fines seem manageable but escalate steeply if left unpaid. For example, expired meter violations are initially fined at $10 for the first four offenses. If unpaid, these fines increase to $20 after 15 days and $35 after 30 days. For individuals with multiple offenses, the fines are even higher, reaching up to $55 after 30 days for those with 10 or more tickets.
The proportion of these violations must be considered. A 15-minute parking violation, at the original cost of 25 cents, can balloon up to $55. Some argue that such a system would be deemed exploitative if implemented by a private organization, yet it is legally sanctioned when operated by the local government. For citizens struggling financially who fall between the cracks of these policies, it can be difficult to overcome.
We asked Kemler of the Toledo Port Authority to clarify the options for relief that exist:
What types of payment programs are available for individuals who can’t pay? There are currently no payment programs available; however, parking fines are lower for the first through fourth offenses and increase for more habitual offenders.
Will essential government services be denied based on unpaid fines? Failure to pay after accumulating one single citation for parking in a handicap space, or three other citations, subjects you to Ohio’s D.E.T.E.R. program (administered by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles), at which time you may incur additional charges, a vehicle registration block by the State of Ohio, and/or towing and impoundment per City of Toledo ordinance.
Are the fines capped at $55 per metered parking violation? Or do they go higher? For expired and overtime meter violations, initial fines are increased to $30 beginning with the 10th parking offense, which fine will increase to $55 if not paid within 30 days. The fine for a handicap violation is $100, which fine will increase to $150 if not paid within 15 days. If any ticket is placed in the Ohio D.E.T.E.R. program due to nonpayment, additional fees may be attached.
Do unpaid tickets get sent to a collection agency? Unpaid parking citations may be sent to an outside collection agency after 90 days.
What considerations were made for residents in these areas when deciding on meter placements? The City of Toledo owns the parking meters and determines the placement of each meter. The Port Authority, via ParkSmart, manages the operation of the on-street parking on the City’s behalf. Residents in downtown Toledo have several options for parking, including monthly covered parking at the Port Lawrence and Superior parking garages.
Is there free subsidized parking nearby? Several downtown businesses own and operate private parking lots, many of which offer free parking.
These implemented changes are consistent with recommendations from a study of the City’s parking system to increase turnover in the metered spaces for patrons visiting the restaurants, shops, and businesses throughout the day. The study’s representatives indicated they were unaware of any other similar sized city that had free parking during the lunch hours and concluded that the people utilizing the free parking were primarily employees of downtown Toledo, eliminating the turnover needed for customers to find accessible on-street parking.
Similarly, it was also recommended that on-street parking have a two-hour limit to further permit turnover and create availability for patrons visiting downtown businesses.
Please note, on-street parking is free before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is free all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Localimpacts of parking practices
For struggling citizens using state services, attending court or simply picking up a child from downtown daycares, parking can be hazardous. We interviewed Chris, a downtown Toledo resident, and he explained the impact “I had to pay $600 for like five or six tickets to get a block removed when I tried to get my license plate.
“And they are impossible to contact. They have two separate offices. I had to go back and forth to sign forms and get stuff notarized for the DMV to get the hold lifted. It was a lot for trying to park where I live. And they are out front early looking. It is a real injustice.”
Rachel Garza, manager of the LaSalle apartments downtown and a Downtown Toledo resident, spoke to the Free Press about whether metered parking practices restrict mobility downtown, or are just part of the expansion of the city.
“I see it both ways definitely, because we are building so much, the growth and everything is amazing,” Garza said. “So you can have parking now, getting around the parking though… we are a built-up market. So we always have Walleye events. We always have Mud Hens events. Jeep Fest takes place down here, the Christmas parade that we do, that’s when it becomes an issue for tenants who are living down here.
“Street parking and the way the tickets lapse, that’s definitely a cause of concern. Why are tenants around certain properties getting ticketed when that’s the only parking they have? And could that be a different type of structure?
“I have had tenants that came to me like, ‘Should it be ticketed if it’s the only parking we have for an apartment complex, even if it is downtown?’ And then for our property, leasing wise, we’ve offered different parking spots depending on lease renewals or working with prices, sometimes depending on how long they’ve been here and how long the issue they’ve had with parking.”
A path forward
The debate over Toledo’s parking enforcement highlights broader issues of urban planning, economic justice and systemic inequality. Residents and advocates remain hopeful that meaningful changes will create a more equitable system for all Toledoans.
One issue uncovered in our investigation was the frequent breakdown of parking meters, leaving downtown visitors in a difficult spot, unable to pay but still at risk of receiving a ticket. I walked 0.7 miles down Huron Street, from Adams Street to the Farmers Market, and found two broken meters. To test the city’s response, I filed a repair request, and the meter was fixed within 24 hours. While these breakdowns seem to happen often, it’s clear the city is trying to address the issue quickly.
However, for many residents and visitors, the uncertainty of broken meters can feel unfair, especially when there’s no way to pay and yet the risk of being ticketed remains. A more transparent policy addressing broken meters could go a long way to easing frustrations, particularly for those who frequent downtown for work or leisure.
Solutions include:
Implementing income-based fine structures: Adjusting fines according to an individual’s ability to pay.
Expanding free parking near essential services: Ensuring accessibility for all residents without additional financial burdens.
Transparency in enforcement practices: Publishing data on ticketing patterns to identify and address potential biases.
Amnesty programs for unpaid fines: Offering opportunities for residents to resolve outstanding tickets without facing overwhelming penalties.
As the debate over Toledo’s parking policies continues, the city faces mounting pressure to reform a system many view as inequitable. Advocates argue that fair and just parking enforcement policies are essential for fostering a city that prioritizes equity and inclusivity.
Without changes, Toledo risks deepening existing inequalities and alienating some of its most vulnerable residents.
