Director’s Report: August 2026

Director’s Report: August 2026

August 2026 was defined by extraordinary community energy, record-breaking participation, and unforgettable outdoor experiences across Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks! As the summer peaked, our parks served as the vibrant heartbeat of the Sylvania region, welcoming thousands of residents, families, and regional visitors to our trails, lakes, open-air shelters, and community halls.

From hosting major signature athletic traditions like the Sylvania Triathlon and the “Riding Late in County 48” night ride to expanding our popular Sylvania Summer Market and welcoming state geologists from Ohio Department of Natural Resources for hands-on fossil digs, August showcased the immense value that local tax dollars deliver back to our community every single day. Beyond recreational triumphs, Outdoor Sylvania was deeply honored to receive the Bob Wick Jewish Community Service Award from the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Toledo, recognizing our district’s commitment to inclusive community service and regional partnership.

Simultaneously, we achieved a landmark moment in public engagement: our 2026 Community Survey officially closed with 511 completed resident responses! This incredible turnout provides our leadership team and Board of Commissioners with a clear, data-driven mandate as we finalize our upcoming 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. Through prudent fiscal management, capital infrastructure upgrades, and dedicated team leadership, Outdoor Sylvania continues to build a park system that honors public trust and enhances quality of life across our entire region.

Community Connections & Strategic Partnerships

Our commitment to our taxpayers relies on strong public partnerships, active civic leadership, and open communication across Northwest Ohio. Throughout August, our leadership team engaged with local civic groups, state agencies, and regional partners to advocate for Sylvania’s green spaces.

Events Hosted:

• Sylvania Summer Market Extension: Drew 400 to 500 visitors every Tuesday evening at Olander Park, featuring over 60 local vendors and food trucks. Due to overwhelming popularity, the market season was officially extended through September.
• Ohio Geological Survey Public Dig: Partnered with ODNR state geologist Molly Hunt and her team for a hands-on fossil collection day at Fossil Park, engaging over 50 enthusiastic amateur paleontologists.
• Rescheduled Sunset Serenade Concerts: Welcomed hundreds of music lovers to Lake Olander for performances by Swingmania (100+ attendees) and the Polish American Concert Band (nearly 200 attendees).
• Annual Kids’ Concert: Celebrated summer youth programming with Risa Cohen & Band, hosting over 100 children and parents for interactive music, crafts, and storytime.

Events and Meetings Attended:

• Erika Buri (Executive Director):
  • Represented the park district at the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Toledo’s Annual Meeting, accepting the Bob Wick Jewish Community Service Award alongside Marketing Manager John Page.
  • Presented an update on park achievements and the strategic survey to the Sylvania Rotary Club.
  • Featured in a live television interview on WTOL Channel 11 to promote resident participation in the community survey.
  • Participated in the Lucas County Health Care Cost Containment Executive Session to advocate for sustainable fiscal management.
  • Filmed a educational feature on native landscaping with the Wild Ones Oak Openings Chapter.
  • Attended the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Summit and American Association of University Women (AAUW) Annual Meeting.
  • Initiated round-two stakeholder outreach with 8 regional leaders, including representatives from the City of Toledo, Metroparks Toledo, Waterford Bank, Sylvania Rec, Sylvania Community Services, Flower Hospital, and ProMedica.
• Dan Marsalek (Operations & Infrastructure):
  • Delivered a keynote presentation on e-bikes and active transportation safety to the Lake Erie West Regional Council.
  • Managed state grant submission protocols through the SAM.gov federal portal to secure funding for the University Parks Trail Phase 3 expansion.
  • Mentored local Scouts on community service projects, including the Sister City Garden, kayak storage racks, and botanical tree/shrub identification signage.
• David Topoleski (Facility Management):
  • Conducted formal walkthrough tours for prospective event hosts at Nederhouser Community Hall.
  • Evaluated regional public compensation trends via the Five Rivers MetroParks Wage Survey to ensure competitive, fiscally responsible workforce planning.
  • Compiled multi-year health insurance cost data to assist the Board of Commissioners with long-term financial modeling.
• John Page (Communication & Marketing):
  • Coordinated regional media coverage with WTOL 11, FOX 36, and Valpak for upcoming fall community events.
  • Published the monthly Trailhead e-newsletter and finalized the print Pathfinder guide for autumn distribution.
  • Produced new episodes for the district’s behind-the-scenes “Explore More” podcast featuring local market vendors and park partners.
• Multiple Staff Members Participated In:
  • The 3rd Annual All-Staff Team Building & Pancake Cook-Off on August 5th, combining internal operational reviews with customer service excellence training.
  • Comprehensive water safety and lifeguard rapid-response drills in coordination with Run Toledo ahead of the Sylvania Triathlon.

Facilities & Operations: Investing in Your Infrastructure

Maintaining pristine, safe, and accessible facilities during peak summer usage requires continuous stewardship behind the scenes. Our maintenance and operations teams worked tirelessly in August to preserve taxpayer assets and enhance park features.

Venue Activity & Public Access:

• Nederhouser Community Hall: Hosted 19 community and private events, alongside 4 formal public walkthrough tours.
• Open-Air Shelters: Hosted 47 group gatherings and family reunions across Olander Park and Fossil Park.
• Online Booking Engine: Processed 14 online venue reservations, generating over $18,000 in rental revenue during the August pay-in alone to support park operations.

Ongoing Major Projects:

• University Parks Trail Phase 3 & Sylvan Prairie Lot: Advanced engineering specifications and state grant compliance to ensure seamless execution of upcoming paved trail extensions.
• Sportsman CRM Transition: Migrated over 43,000 user profiles into our updated, resident-friendly point-of-sale and registration platform ahead of its September launch.

Park Enhancements & Seasonal Maintenance:

• Fossil Park Improvements: Hauled and placed fresh fossil-bearing quarry stone from Heidelberg, installed 2 new flush valves in the restrooms, and repaired shade structures.
• Olander Park Upgrades: Removed the legacy concrete well platform on the east side of the lake, ground down and re-leveled tree stumps in the Catherine Frye Outdoor Playscape, tilled volleyball courts, and installed custom wood/plaque refurbishments on donor picnic tables.
• Swim Beach & Waterfront Prep: Installed 2 new safety staircases on the upper swim shade platforms and sanded/patched playground step surfacing to ensure “Platinum Standard” visitor safety.
• District Groundskeeping: Completed ditch clearing and mowing for the Lucas County ditch assessment and mulched/weeded the Whetstone Park playground.

Human Resources & Professional Development

Our dedicated workforce is the backbone of Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks. In August, we focused on career growth, seasonal retention, and establishing high standards of public service.

• Staffing & Payroll: The park district maintained 30 active employees on payroll through the end of August.
• Key Personnel Update: Internal candidate Brian Spencer was promoted to the position of Full-Time Park Technician 1 after several successful seasons with the district, officially stepping into his new role on August 25th.
• Professional Certifications: Operations leads Dan Marsalek and Dawson Howard initiated study coursework for the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) exam to establish formal, recurring audit cycles for all playground structures.
• Seasonal Transition: Celebrated the hard work of our departing summer seasonal team members—including Madison Homestead, Owen Livingston, Evan VanderPoel, and Thomas Zander—while establishing flexible fall schedules to retain key staff through October.

Volunteerism & Community Mentorship

Volunteers provide vital energy, specialized knowledge, and hands-on support that allow our park district to extend its public services cost-effectively.

• Number of Volunteers: 22 community individuals.
• Number of Volunteer Opportunities: 10 distinct service projects.
• Total Volunteer Hours Contributed: 88 total hours (plus 32 dedicated horticulture hours from Toledo ZooTeens)!
• Of Special Note: Key volunteer contributions this month powered our Sunset Serenade Concert Series, weekly Summer Markets, invasive plant removal, and specialized water-patrol kayaking on Lake Olander.

Programming & Events: A Season of Success

August delivered a rich calendar of wellness, culture, and outdoor recreation designed for residents of all ages.

    AUGUST 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 

• 592 Triathletes competed in the 2026 Sylvania Triathlon 

• 450 Night Cyclists joined “Riding Late in County 48”       
• 511 Survey Respondents shared feedback for the Strategic Plan   
• 400-500 Weekly Guests visited the Tuesday Summer Markets       

Program Summary & Attendance Highlights:

• Sylvania Triathlon (Aug 1–2): Served as the host venue for one of the oldest multisport events in the nation, welcoming 592 athletes across Sprint/Olympic Triathlon, Duathlon, Aquabike, and Relay divisions, backed by 100 community volunteers and Outdoor Sylvania staff.
• “Riding Late in County 48” Cycling Event (Aug 22): Welcomed 450 nocturnal cyclists for a memorable community night ride through Sylvania.
• Summer Concert Series: Entertained over 300 total guests across rescheduled evening performances by Swingmania and the Polish American Concert Band.
• Community Wellness & Fitness: Maintained strong weekly enrollment in Yoga Poses in the Park, Zumba Lakeside, and the year-long Wellness Challenge 2026.

Major Program Highlights:

• Fossil Park Educational Geology Dig: Partnered with state geologists to provide rare hands-on scientific tools and guided identification for over 50 local families.
• Annual Kids’ Concert & Literacy: Blended live children’s music with Pre-K reading and nature crafts, introducing young children to early environmental learning.
• 55 After 5 Senior Series Review: Following the inaugural launch of our senior series, staff initiated debrief discussions with the Sylvania Senior Center to refine timing and offerings for 2027.

Strategic & Administrative Activities

Behind the public events, our executive team focused on long-term governance, grant compliance, and fiscal sustainability.

Projects Underway:

• 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: Dr. Gore and her research team initiated comprehensive data analysis on the 511 survey responses collected from park visitors and taxpayers.
• Foundation Growth & Philanthropy: Processed a surge of donor contributions, bringing total district fundraising very close to our $26,000 August milestone.
• Policy Handbook Development: Advanced section drafting with facility leadership, keeping governance policy codification on track for year-end completion.
• Public Energy Aggregation: Evaluated energy supplier agreements with Mark Fry’s team and SOPEC to lock in stable, lower utility rates for park facilities.

Completed Projects & Honors:

• Bob Wick Jewish Community Service Award: Formally presented to Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks in recognition of outstanding regional partnership.
• 2027 County Budget Submission: Successfully prepared and submitted our preliminary 2027 fiscal budget framework to the Lucas County Office of Budget and Management ahead of deadline.

Looking Ahead: Focus for September

As we transition into early autumn, our focus shifts toward strategic visioning, facility enhancements, and fall family traditions:

• Sportsman CRM Launch (Sept 15): Unveiling our modernized online portal for seamless public program registration and shelter bookings.
• Strategic Plan Vision Review: Presenting initial findings from our 511 community survey responses to the Board of Commissioners.
• 28th Annual Halloween Hike Preparation: Finalizing digital promotions, partner coordination, and candy supplies for Sylvania’s favorite autumn tradition on October 24th.
• Stakeholder Round-Two Meetings: Conducting 1:1 engagement sessions with 8 key civic and healthcare leaders across the Sylvania corridor.
• CPSI Safety Audit Certification: Completing intensive safety inspector certification coursework for maintenance leadership.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to keep Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks beautiful, safe, and welcoming for all! See you on the trails!

Erika Buri
Executive Director, Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks