Ottawa Park Outdoor Rink
The only open-air ice rink in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Join us for the fun and excitement!
Closed for the Season
Ottawa Park Outdoor Rink is now closed for the season. 🥅🏒
Thank you to everyone who came out to skate, play, and be part of another great winter—we truly appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you back on the ice next season! ❄️⛸️
History of Ottawa Park
Welcome to historic Ottawa Park in Toledo! The creation of the Toledo Park System is largely credited to Sylvanus P. Jermain. In 1891, he spearheaded an effort to gather signatures for a bond issue to fund parks, which successfully passed, leading to the first major expansion of Toledo’s park system.
In 1892, the city acquired 280 acres of land from John Ketcham. The Ottawa River meanders through the park, with its banks rising to form three distinct meadows. Initially, the land was mostly swampy, but by 1897, roads, walkways, and a trolley line had been established, and much of the swampy area around the river had been drained.
Ottawa Park was designed based on the principles of Frederick Law Olmsted, who is often regarded as the father of American landscape architecture. Olmsted is renowned for designing many famous urban parks, including Central Park in New York City and Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. He also created the first coordinated system of public parks and parkways in Buffalo, New York, and the master plans for Stanford University and the University of Chicago.
Olmsted’s designs were influenced by English landscape and gardening traditions, primarily utilizing pastoral and picturesque styles to create specific effects. The pastoral style, featuring expansive green spaces with small lakes, trees, and groves, aimed to provide a soothing and restorative experience for visitors. In 1899, a golf course designed by S.P. Jermain was added to the park.