Stormwater Management at Hensville

As part of a local tour of green infrastructure May 26, stormwater planners and engineers stopped at the new Hensville by the Mud Hens ballpark. At the corner of Summit and Monroe in downtown Toledo, an old parking lot was re-purposed and re-engineered as part of an entertainment area. Before the renovation,  stormwater that flooded on the impervious parking lot drained to combined stormwater and sanitary sewers. After renovation, the stormwater is completely separated. Some is diverted to water elm and sycamore trees in deep tree boxes. Surplus joins the stormwater system.

Tim Bockbrader, a principal at Edge, a landscape architecture and urban design firm, shows local planners how stormwater from the roof is re-directed to water newly planted trees.

At many of installations on the bus tour, green infrastructure was apparent in the form of swales or retainment areas. At Hensville, all the infrastructure is below ground to maximize use of the urban property.


Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Tour Region's Green Infrastructure

Register now for the tour.
Hensville, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Zoo. Lots to see and lots to learn. 

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

ITS Architecture – Regional Input Requested Now

TMACOG and all the jurisdictions in the region are working on the next generation of transportation communication including the network of emergency communications, road signage, traffic signals, and other transportation communication systems.

Transportation engineers and civic administrators in the TMACOG region are asked to contribute to an inventory of this ITS Architecture in our region. Consultants working on this issue –ConSysTec– have created a full draft architecture update. It can be found here: http://www.consystec.com/ohio/toledo/web/index.htm

We would like each agency to review their portion of the architecture and provide comments by Friday, June 3 so that the consultants can complete the architecture update. The key sections of the website which contain stakeholder specific information are:

Whole lot of Green Infrastructure Innovation Going on

There is an awful lot of innovative green infrastructure to see in Toledo. Engineers and designers have been busy. Join this tour to improve how we handle stormwater and improve water quality. 

Elected officials and civic administrators: learn what design engineers are proposing for new strategies for green infrastructure. Engineers and architects: Hear from others who have addressed practical problems of construction and maintenance and see how these structures have improved water quality and aesthetics in urban areas.

Green Infrastructure Bus Tour

Thursday, May 26, 2016

8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Register now for the Green Infrastructure Tour. Print this Bus Tour flier and share with colleagues. 

Train Day Toledo is Saturday

Come on down to the Train station tomorrow, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. for fun, free, train fun. The 911 locomotive is here and so are Amtrak passenger cars. Walk through the cars to see what comfortable, modern train travel is like. Big comfy seats, lots of room to walk around. 

Stay for the raffle for train tickets, bring the kids to the safety presentation, model trains! Lots more to see and do. 

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Ozone Action Season has Begun

Ozone Action Season is May through September. This is the time of year that hot, sunny days combine with volatile organic compounds to create low-level ozone. Do your part to protect the air by leaving your car at home - take the bus or ride a bike. Don't mow the lawn when it's really hot, wait for evening. Avoid gassing up the car or using spray paint. Adjust the thermostat to use the air conditioner less. Hang out the laundry instead of using the drier. Basically, sit in the shade and enjoy doing no yard work.

To get ozone forecasts sign up for email notifications. Email to ENV.INFORMATION@toledo.oh.gov and ask to be added to the list.

The levels of ozone (from best conditions to worst):

• Good
• Satisfactory
• Precautionary Measures Should be Taken by Sensitive Groups
• Caution

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Farmers Invited to Apply for Funds

The U.S. EPA recently announced a series of grants from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that will address both invasive species and excess nutrients in the lakes. TMACOG has been awarded nearly $500,000 to help farmers reduce the amount of nutrients that migrate from their fields to nearby waterways. Farmers in the Portage and Toussaint River watersheds are eligible. Contact your Ottawa or Wood County Soil & Water Conservation District Office. 

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org