Ottawa is a neighborhood in west central
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
, bordered by Secor Road to the West, Dorr Street to the South, Central Ave. to the North, and Upton and Monroe to the East and North. It derives its name from the Ottawa Indians that settled in the area in the early 18th century, as well as Ottawa Park, a prominent recreational area located within the community.
The district features historic neighborhoods such as Old Orchard, Indian Hills and Westmoreland. Old Orchard and Indian Hills are parallel to the Village of
Ottawa Hills and have similar architectural styles and multi-level single-family homes. Westmoreland is bordered by Bancroft Street, Parkside Boulevard and Upton Ave. It is characterized by architectural styles ranging from Colonial to French, with rounded, undulating streets and open miniparks.
History
In 1918, plans were made to move the
Toledo Zoo
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, located in Toledo, Ohio, is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), through the year 2022. The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium houses over ...
from Walbridge Park to Ottawa Park, where it would "represent the finest and the third largest zoo in the United States." These plans, however, were never carried out.
Residents began to live in the area in the 1920s and 30s, as several wealthy residents began to venture outside the central city. The relocation of the
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo (UToledo or UT) is a public research university in Toledo, Ohio. It is the northernmost campus of the University System of Ohio. The university also operates a Health Science campus, which includes the University of ...
to its current Bancroft Street location in 1931 cemented the neighborhood's identity as an area of education and leisure.
The migration of African-American residents to this area began in the early 1960s, with desegregation and improved job opportunities. Areas such as BUMA (Bancroft-Upton-Monroe) and Auburn-Delaware are predominantly black, and have a mix of middle and low-income earning residents.
Recreation
Ottawa Park sits on , bordered by Bancroft Street to the south, Douglas Road to the west, Kenwood Boulevard to the north, and Monroe Street/Ottawa Drive/Torrey Hill Dr to the East. It features a bike trail, 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, outdoor ice rink, a 19-hole disc golf course, picnic areas, jogging and nature trails, and playgrounds. The Ottawa Park Ice Rink is home to the Greater Toledo Inline Hockey League which is the cities premier inline hockey league.
Just across Monroe Street sits Jermain Park, named after Sylvanus Pierre Jermain, "the father of public golf in Toledo."
Toledo's Attic
Jermaine Park is much smaller than Ottawa Park and is mostly known for its tennis courts, where high school sectional matches are hosted year after year.
Close proximity to the University of Toledo
The University of Toledo (UToledo or UT) is a public research university in Toledo, Ohio. It is the northernmost campus of the University System of Ohio. The university also operates a Health Science campus, which includes the University of ...
, enables residents to take part in a host of recreational endeavors. The school's multi-million dollar Student Recreation Center, built in 1994, has swimming pools, basketball courts, tracks, and racquetball courts, amongst other facilities. It was also the first college recreation center to have a water slide. The school's football stadium, the Glass Bowl
The Glass Bowl is a stadium in Toledo, Ohio. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the American football team of the University of Toledo Rockets. It is located on the school's Bancroft campus, just south of the ba ...
, is also host to football games played by the school's team, the Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The ...
, as well as various high school contests.
Education
*Grove Patterson Academy
*McKinley Elementary
*Old Orchard Elementary School
*Robinson Elementary School
* St. Francis de Sales High School (Toledo, Ohio)
* Gesu School
References
{{Toledo
Historic districts in Ohio
Neighborhoods in Toledo, Ohio