Blue Creek Conservation Area

The Blue Creek Conservation Area in Whitehouse, OH is a 577 acre site that was once the location of the Toledo House of Corrections - a prison farm. The property is being redeveloped as a Toledo Metropark highlighting both Toledo's farming heritage and the natural values that are present in the land. The park is currently under development and only open during special events.

I have found several references to this location on a few web sites. Here they are:

Toledo.com:

The Blue Creek Conservation Area in Whitehouse is the site of the former Toledo House of Corrections. Metropark is partnering with the Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District and Nature's Nursery to use the site as a center for nature, agriculture and wildlife education and restoration. An adjacent property, known as the Nona France Recreation Area, recently became park of Metroparks and will continue to be used for active recreation under an agreement with the local jurisdiction.

From the official Metoparks web site:

In the next 10 years, the park district plans to open the Fallen Timbers Battlefield in Maumee; the Blue Creek Conservation Area in Whitehouse; the 300-acre addition to Pearson; a 28-acre park on the Maumee River in downtown Toledo known as the Middlegrounds; and a greenway with an all-purpose trail from Secor to Oak Openings Preserve Metroparks.

I posted this entry on the Great Lakes Hikes Yahoo Group when I first learned of Blue Creek:

Whitehouse Metropark

04/20/04

I've never heard of this place before, but the Toledo Metroparks are apparently creating a new 577 acre Metropark near Whitehouse on the site of the old Toledo Workhouse. From what I've read, there is a creek that extends through the property, there is oak savanna habitat and glacial grooves.

It's kind of neat to think about what is happening around Toledo in terms of parks. This site is close to Oak Openings Metropark, the Wabash-Cannonball Railtrail, a series of canal parks and other planned canal trails. You can really see something nice coming together there. And for you NCT lovers, the trail goes right on through.

www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?ID=/20040419/NEWS17/404190377

This is the official Metroparks Blue Creek Conservation Area Page:

http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metroparks/bluecreek/