Please use this as a supplement to information provided on the Pearson Metropark map.
Messages for InterpretationOne of our most popular parks, precious with natural riches like Great Black Swamp woodlands and restored wetlands, Pearson Metropark balances the needs of recreation and nature preservation.• Geologichistorysetthestageforanaturallandscapethatprovedamajorobstacletoearlysettlement.
• LakeEriewetlands,vernalpools,andmanmadelakessupportawidevarietyofaquaticlifeandwildlife.
• GreatBlackSwampwoodlandspreserveexceptionaltreediversity,springwildflowerpopulationsand wildlifenestingareas.
• Fromitsinception,PearsonMetroparkhasbeendrivenbystrongcitizensupportandrecreationneeds.
• RestorationeffortsatPearson Metropark increase eco-services for people and improve habitats for nature
What’s In A Name?FormerlycalledtheBanklands,GeorgePearsonofTheToledoBladewasinstrumentalinacquiringPearsonMetropark.Theparkwasofficiallydedicatedin1934.
Natural and Human HistoryApproximately620acresinsize,PearsonistheonlyMetroparkthatoffersaremnantnaturalcommunityofOhio’sformerGreatBlackSwamp.Thisvastswampextendedalongthroughseveralpresent-daycounties(Ottawa/Wood/Henry/Paulding)andslightlypasttheOhio/Indiana border.
Theblueclayherewasdepositedapproximatelyonemillionyearsago,andwasformerlythelakebottomofglacialLakeWarren.Priortosettlement,thisswampwascharacterizedbyverypoorlydrainedsoil,excessivestandingwaterdarkenedbytannicacids,verylarge,but-tressing,oldgrowthtreesandcarpetsofspringwildflow-ers.
Duetoitsgeologicfeatures,theGreatBlackSwampwas one of the last areas settled in northwest Ohio, and consideredasortofrefugeforsomeofthelastlargewildlifespeciesthataretodayextirpatedfromthearea,suchasmountainlion,elk,andgraywolf.
ThenaturalareaatPearsonNorthisrepresentativeofLakeEriecoastalzone,featuringopenwetlandexpanseswithhighnumbersofwaterfowlandwetlandspeciesincludingnon-native,narrow-leavedcattail.Itswoodedareaalsosupportsvernalpools--springwoodlandpud-dlesthatusuallydryupbysummer,donotcontainfish
Pearson Metropark Highlights
and are hotspots for amphibian and macro-invertebrate diversity.PearsonNorthwasacquiredin2003andisaLucasCountywetlandmitigationbanksite.
TheJohlinloghouse,formerlylocatedonCorduroyRoad,wasdonatedtoMetroparksbyFredJohlinandmovedtothePearsonNorthpropertyin2006.In1867,theJohlinswereearlysettlerstonorthwestOhio.Theyencounteredobstaclessuchasmosquitoborneillnesseslikemalaria,difficultywithdraininglandforcropsandlackofadequateroads.
Asdrainagetechnologyprogressed,settlementgrew,andinthelatterhalfofthe19thcenturymostoftheGreatBlackSwampbecameditchedandtiledintoveryproductivefarmland.SomesaythatthereismoredraintilebeneaththehistoricGreatBlackSwampthannearlyanywhereelseintheworld.
ThedistinctivestoneworkandarchitectureatPearson’sshelters,gazebosandman-madepondswasoriginallybuiltbytheWorksProgressAdministrationandthe CivilianConservationCorpsduringthemidtolate1930’s.
Duringthemid-20thcentury,Pearsonwasawell-knownrecreationalgatheringplaceandofferedactivitiesasdiverseasbilliards,tandemcycling,rollerskatingandhorsebackriding.Today,itisstillknownforrecreationalpursuitsincludingpaddle-boating,sledding,iceskating,and tennis and pickle ball.
Trout lily Purple cress
Wild geraniumSpicebush
Red fox
Plant Life(*=state-listedrare)Treesandshrubsinclude: RedandBurroak Paw-paw Silvermaple Sugarmaple Shagbarkhickory Musclewood Easterncottonwood Americansycamore Basswood Hophornbeam Spicebush Bladdernut Pricklyash Dogwood
Nativespringwildflowersinclude: Jack-in-the-pulpit Wildginger Springbeauty Troutlily Wildgeranium Purplecress Cut-leavedtoothwort Swampbuttercup
Metroparks monitors two plants here that are rare speciesinOhio:RedbaneberryandNorthernfoxsedge.
WildlifePearsonsupportsexcellenthabitatforbatssuchasthebigbrownbat.Theyuseopenmeadowareastohuntinsectsandlargetreeswithloosebarkforroosting.
Mammalsinclude: Redfox Coyote Whitetaileddeer Southernflyingsquirrel Easternfoxsquirrel Raccoon Mink Muskrat
BirdslikelyattheWindowonWildlifeinclude: Commongrackle Ruby-throated Red-belliedwoodpecker hummingbird Hairywoodpecker Downywoodpecker White-breastednuthatch Northerncardinal Mourningdove Americangoldfinch Tuftedtitmouse Black-cappedchickadee Bluejay Housesparrow Europeanstarling (non-native) (non-native)
Wetlandbirdsinclude: Commonsnipe Americanwoodcock Red-wingedblackbird Killdeer
Raptor’sinclude: Greathornedowl Red-tailedhawk Cooper’shawk Easternscreechowl
Gamefishthatcanbecaughtinclude: Bluegill Crappie Smallmouth bass
Amphibiansandreptilesinclude: Americantoad Northernleopardfrog Bullfrog Easterngartersnake Northernwatersnake Midlandpaintedturtle Snappingturtle
Insectsandarthropodsinclude: Giant swallowtail Monarch Commonwhitetaildragonfly Muddauberwasps Jumpingspiders Rustycrayfish Orb weavers
Northern leopard frog
Red-winged blackbird Giant swallowtail butterfly
Marbled orb weaver
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Map Created 11/11/2015 by MPDTASources: MPDTA, ESRI, Ohio Coastal Atlas
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Map Created 11/11/2015 by MPDTASources: MPDTA, ESRI, Ohio Coastal Atlas
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County Boundary
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Michigan
Indiana
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Map Created 11/11/2015 by MPDTASources: MPDTA, ESRI, Ohio Coastal Atlas
River
Interstate
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Municipality
County Boundary
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LAKE ERIE
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WYANDOT
Pearson Metropark
Withinthepastdecade,thenon-nativeEmeraldashborerbeetlehasdestroyedmanytreesatPearson.
Stayontrailsanduseprotectiveclothingandinsecticidetoavoidpoisonivy,ticks,Yellowjacketsandmosquitoes.
(Note:ThereisnopoisonoakinNorthwestOhio.)
Big brown bat
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