Please use this as a supplement to information provided on any maps of the site.

Messages for InterpretationSurrounded by lands rich with cultural and natural history, the unique character of Blue Creek Metropark represents a crossroads of land uses that continuously evolve. • BlueCreek’snaturalfeaturestellstoriesofglaciation,convergingeco-regionsandhabitatbiodiversity.

• ThechoicesoflanduseatBlueCreekMetropark overtimereflectchangingvaluesinsociety.

• Resourceconservation,communitypartnerships,andrecreationaretheprimaryforcesshapingMetroparksinitiatives at Blue Creek Metropark today.

What’s in the Name? BlueCreekflowsthroughthisMetroparkandisatributaryofSwanCreekandpartoftheMaumeeRiverwatershed.

Natural and Human HistoryBlue Creek Metropark is on the border of the Oak OpeningsRegionandtheMaumeeRiverfloodplain community.

Greenspaceandnaturalareasatthislarge,multi-usecomplexincludetwoquarries,severalrecreationfields,successionalwoodland,sustainablegardens,restoredwetlands,restoredtallgrassprairies,aMetroparksnativeplantnursery,andalimestoneglade(see“PlantLife”).

ExposedDevonianagelimestone(350-450million years old) at this Metropark is rich with fossils of sea creaturessuchasBrachiopods,Hornedcoral,TrilobitesandCrinoids(sealilies).Fossilscanbeobservedbestnearthelarge,NonaFranceQuarry,andalsonearthesmaller quarry pond and in some of the walls and stone barns of the historic prison area.

NearthequarriesaresomeofthebestexamplesofglacialstriationsinnorthwestOhio.These‘scratches’inthebedrockwerecreatedabout12,000yearsago,whenglacierspushedhardergraniteoverthelocallimestonebedrock.

In addition to Blue Creek, Mosquito Creek is also a tributarywithinthispark’sboundaries.

TwoconstructedwetlandsatBlueCreekMetroparkhelpcreatemorewell-balancedecosystems.Oneincorporatesdikes,outlets,valvesandmeasuringapparatustoreducesediment,maximizeoxygenandmaintaintherightwaterfordeterringnonnativespecies.

Nearthewetlandisditchthatwasrecentlyrestoredusingatwo-stageapproachthatincludeslandbenchesor‘floodplains’toslowwaterflowandimproveecologywithin the channel.

Blue Creek Metropark Highlights

Intheearly1800’s,thisareawaspartofareserva-tionforNativeAmericantribessuchasChippewaandOttawa,butbythe1840’s,mostofitbecameprivatelyowned farmland.

Inthe1900’s,partofthisMetroparkwasthesiteofa310acre-self-sustainingprisoncountyworkhouse.Pur-chasedin1918bytheCityofToledo,itoperateduntil1991.Duringoperation,rockwasquarried,stonewallsandbarnsconstructed,cowsandhogsraised,atreenursery maintained, and crops such as tobacco, corn, wheat,hayandoatsgrown.In2000,LucasCountyandMetroparkspurchasedtheToledoworkhousesite.

Theformerworkhousecomplexincludedajail(removedin2014),awarden’shouse,animpressivehistoric1930barn, an 8 foot stone wall enclosure, several small stone barns,andamorerecentjailannexthatnowservesasMetroparks native plant nursery headquarters.

Metroparks native plant nursery operates out of Blue Creek Metropark. Yearly thousands of native plants ofover50speciesandadozenOhiorarespeciesarepropagated,harvestedandusedtoenhancenativebiodiversitythroughoutMetroparksatlarge.

PartnersinlanduseatBlueCreekMetropark currentlyincludeNature’sNurseryCenterforWildlifeRehabilitation,LucasSoilandWaterDistrict,andthe VillageofWhitehouse.

Nature’sNurseryusestheformerprisonwarden’shouseasitsheadquarters,andalsomaintainsalargeraptor

Green heronBarn swallow

Praying mantisAmerican kestrel

Mammals include: Short-tailedweasel Foxsquirrel Groundhog Redfox Coyote,Raccoon Muskrat Stripedskunk White-taileddeer

Birds of wetland areas include: Canadagoose Greenheron Greatblueheron Red-wingedblackbird Sandpiper species Osprey Mallard Woodduck

Other birds here include: Eastern bluebird Eastern meadowlark Dickcissel Cedarwaxwing Graycatbird Songsparrow Barnswallow Rough-wingedswallow Americankestrel Red-tailedhawk

Stayingonthetrailsprotectsparkvisitorsandpetsfrom:Poisonivy AmericandogticksChiggers StingingnettleMosquitoes

Protectionalsoincludescoveringupwithlightweightclothingandusinginsecticidewhennecessary.

TherearenovenomoussnakesorPoisonOakhere.

Prairie dock

rehabilitationflightcagenearBlueCreek’spavedparkinglot.Parkvisitorsshouldavoidtheseareastobestprotecttherehabilitatingwildlife.

LucasSoilandWaterDistrictmaintainsdemonstrationsfarmfieldsandgardensonsomeofproperty.

SubstantialacreageonthenorthsideofBlueCreekMetroparkisleasedtotheVillageofWhitehouse.Thislandincludesthepubliclibraryproperty,thelargeNonaFranceQuarryandmultiplerecreationfields.

Plant LifePlantlifeatthisMetroparkincludesawidevarietyofwetland,prairie,andfallowfarmfieldspecies.

One unique ecosystem that occurs here is called lime-stoneglade.Itsconsistencyofsandy,shallowsoilontopof limestone bedrock supports many rare and unusual plants.Thegladehasbeenenhancedsignificantlythroughinvasivespeciescontrol,andishometoatleastsevenplantsthatarestate-listedasrareinOhio.

Plantsofthelimestonegladeinclude(*=state-listed):Tallcinquefoil* Hairypinweed*Rocksandwort* CanadaandplainsChinquapinoakfrostweeds*Fragrantsumac HairywoodmintNoddingwildonion VioletbushcloverStiffgoldenrod HairybeardtongueSmallskullcap PasturerosePrairiethimbleweed* Paleumbrellasedge*

PlantsinBlueCreek’sgrasslandsandfieldsinclude: Bigbluestem Indiangrass Switchgrass Prairiedock Commonmilkweed Canadagoldenrod Catnip Common mullein NewEnglandaster Commonwhiteaster

Wetlandandcreek-sideplantsinclude: Tallanemone Stingingnettle Commonboneset Joe-pyeweed Bur cucumber Buttonbush GrayandRedosier Sandbarwillow dogwoods

WildlifeInsects include: PrayingMantis Pearlcrescent Monarch Bronze copper Blackswallowtail Eastern-tailedblue Easternpondhawk Widowskimmer Green darner Bluet species

Reptilesandamphibiansinclude: Northernleopardfrog Graytreefrog Americantoad Greenfrog Midlandpaintedturtle Snappingturtle Common water snake

Bronze copper

New England aster

Glacial striations