Simple Pleasure
It is a wonderfully quiet out of the way place to enjoy a lazy day stroll. The Toledo Metroparks’ Blue Creek Conservation Area’s charm is its beautiful and peaceful simplicity—it is the perfect melding of the natural, unadorned elements of a pond and a pathway alive with plants and wildlife. The 61 acres include the glistening, tranquil Quarry Pond framed with cottonwoods and maples. The shoreline is outlined with large, thick slabs of limestone which have persevered and mark this area as a former limestone quarry. These stones provide fun nooks and crannies for picnicking, fishing and toe dipping (splash war!) at the water’s edge. The pond hosts largemouth bass, blue gill, sunfish, crappies and channel catfish while butterflies, moths and dragonflies weave across its surface.
The one mile dirt/grass packed trail winds its way along the water and through shady groves of oaks and open shrub lined areas. Everywhere there is golden rod, delicate grey headed coneflowers, huge milkweed pods and the melodies of birds, crickets and frogs. There is also the most gorgeously lush sea of tall mixed grasses I have ever experienced at a Metropark. It is breathtaking. As you come around each curve in the pathway, the grasses appear so high and abundant they seem to caress the horizon. Reach out and run your hand over their feathery softness as you look up and outward to see the grasses blend into a wave of fine wrought seed heads swaying back and forth against a backdrop of sky blue sunshine.
The park is located on the east side of Schadel Rd a quarter mile from the intersection of Neapolis-Waterville Rd and Schadel Rd; look closely for the double wood and metal gates opening onto a blacktopped parking lot. Open 7 days a week 7am until dark. Ohio fishing license is required, no swimming allowed and dogs must be leashed. For more info go to metroparkstoledo.com
Simple Pleasure
It is a wonderfully quiet out of the way place to enjoy a lazy day stroll. The Toledo Metroparks’ Blue Creek Conservation Area’s charm is its beautiful and peaceful simplicity—it is the perfect melding of the natural, unadorned elements of a pond and a pathway alive with plants and wildlife. The 61 acres include the glistening, tranquil Quarry Pond framed with cottonwoods and maples. The shoreline is outlined with large, thick slabs of limestone which have persevered and mark this area as a former limestone quarry. These stones provide fun nooks and crannies for picnicking, fishing and toe dipping (splash war!) at the water’s edge. The pond hosts largemouth bass, blue gill, sunfish, crappies and channel catfish while butterflies, moths and dragonflies weave across its surface.
The one mile dirt/grass packed trail winds its way along the water and through shady groves of oaks and open shrub lined areas. Everywhere there is golden rod, delicate grey headed coneflowers, huge milkweed pods and the melodies of birds, crickets and frogs. There is also the most gorgeously lush sea of tall mixed grasses I have ever experienced at a Metropark. It is breathtaking. As you come around each curve in the pathway, the grasses appear so high and abundant they seem to caress the horizon. Reach out and run your hand over their feathery softness as you look up and outward to see the grasses blend into a wave of fine wrought seed heads swaying back and forth against a backdrop of sky blue sunshine.
The park is located on the east side of Schadel Rd a quarter mile from the intersection of Neapolis-Waterville Rd and Schadel Rd; look closely for the double wood and metal gates opening onto a blacktopped parking lot. Open 7 days a week 7am until dark. Ohio fishing license is required, no swimming allowed and dogs must be leashed. For more info go to metroparkstoledo.com
