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Please use this as a supplement to information provided on the Wildwood Preserve Metropark map.
Messages for InterpretationA Park for and by the people, Wildwood Preserve bal-ances respect for ecologically rich natural areas with historical, cultural and recreational opportunities.• Mostlysurroundedbysuburbandevelopment,Wild-woodPreserveisanoasisfornativenaturalcommu-nities and rare species that need protection.
• Fromestatetopreserve,Wildwood’shistoryissteepedineducation,communityInvolvement,grass-rootscitizenactionanddevotedvolunteerism.
• Wildwood’sextremepopularityrequireseveryone’sunderstanding and cooperation to support, restore, and preserve its sensitive natural and cultural integ-rity.
What’s in the Name? FollowingapublicnamingcontestforthisnewparkinMayof1975,acommitteeselectedWildwoodPre-serve–achoicemadebyEleanorMaddyandJenniferWinslow–fromover360suggestions.
Natural and Human HistoryOttawaRiverfloodplain,uplandwoods,ravinesandprairiesareallsignificantnaturalfeaturesofthepopu-lar Wildwood Preserve.
SandandavariablewatertablehelpdefineWildwood’sprairie/savannacommunitiesthatsupporthighbiodiver-sity as part of the globally rare Oak Openings Region.
The sand along the Purple, Orange and Yellow trails wasdepositedabout12-13,000yearsagoasaresultofglaciation.
The large, forested section of Wildwood is one of the mostsignificantcontiguouswoodlandsinLucasCountyand critical habitat for interior dwelling species such as woodthrush,wildturkeyandred-backedsalamanders.
TheOttawaRiverbeginsattheconfluenceoftheTenMileandNorthTenMilecreeksinSylvania.TheOttawaRiverWatershedisabout220squaremiles.
WildwoodPreservebeganaMetroparkastheresultofa1974citizenscampaignandlevytosavepropertyfor-merlyownedbyRobertA.Stranahanfromdevelopment.
Wildwoodfeaturestheformerlate1930sestatewithitsstatelyManorHouseandhistoricallysignificantEllenBiddleShipmanGardensopenforpublicvisitation.
TheoldestbuildingonWildwoodPreserve’spropertyisthe1880FarmHouseoriginallybuiltandownedbyGeorgeAlbon.
Wildwood Preserve Highlights
Theoneroom,OakGroveSchoolwasbuiltin1897andmovedin1998toWildwoodfromitsoriginallocation¼milenorthonCoreyRoad.
Volunteer opportunities at Wildwood Preserve include rarespeciesmonitoringaswellasgardeningandstew-ardshipprojectsandprogrammingassistance.
ResourcemanagementtomaintainhealthyhabitatsatWildwoodincludesmowing,streambankstabilizationthroughplantings,andinvasiveplant/thicketremoval.
Inrecentyearsextensivemanagementalsohasbeenimplementedtocontroloakwilt,afungusthatquicklykillsredandblackoaksandthreatensWildwood’sunin-terrupted woodlands.
Plant LifeSpringwildflowersinclude:Round-lobed hepatica BloodrootTrout lily Purple cressSpringbeauty WildbluephloxWildginger Swampbuttercup
FloodplainTrees/shrubsinclude:Americansycamore RedoakEasterncottonwood SilvermapleOhio buckeye Burr oakSpicebush Paw-paw
Fringed gentianBloodroot
Maidenhair fernAmerican goldfinch on Rough blazing star
Somemammalsinclude:Foxsquirrel GroundhogRedsquirrel EasternchipmunkSouthernflyingsquirrel MinkEasternmole RaccoonEasterncottontailrabbit White-taileddeer Coyote RedfoxSeveralbatspecies,includingtheNorthernlong-eared,now federally threatened.
Staying on the trails will protect park visitors and pets from:Poisonivy AmericandogticksChiggers StingingnettleMosquitoes
Protection also includes covering up with lightweight clothing and using insecticide when necessary.
TherearenovenomoussnakesorPoisonOakhere.
Dusted skipper
Barred owl
Uplandwoodstrees/shrubsinclude:White oak Black oak Sassafras Black cherry Witchhazel Americanhazelnut
Nativeprairiespeciesinclude:Littlebluestem(grass) Bigbluestem(grass)Indiangrass CommonmilkweedBlack-eyedSusan WildbergamotTall coreopsis Tall ironweedDense and Rough blazing star
Wildwoodishometoaboutthreedozenplantsthatarestate-listed as rare in Ohio, including Wild lupine, Virginiameadowbeauty,FringedgentianandRound-leaved dogwood.
NotinmanyotherMetroparks,MaidenhairferngrowsonWildwood’sbluetrail.
WildlifeYearroundresidentbirdsinclude:Mourningdove Red-belliedwoodpeckerBlack-cappedchickadee NortherncardinalTuftedtitmouse AmericangoldfinchWhite-breasted nuthatch Wild turkey Red-tailedhawk Cooper’shawkEasternscreechowl NorthernbarredowlGreathornedowl
Nestingmigrantsinclude:Blue-gray gnatcatcher Red-eyed vireoBaltimoreoriole AmericanrobinRed-wingedblackbird IndigobuntingWood thrush Turkey vultureBroad-winged hawk
Wildwood prairie areas are critical habitat for ground nestingsongbirdssuchasEasterntowhees,Fieldspar-rows,CommonyellowthroatsandAmericanwoodcock.
Notableinsectsinclude: Bald-facedhornet Ebonyjewelwing Cicadaspecies CicadakillerwaspsTruekatydid OakwormmothandBlister beetles caterpillar Americancopper(staterare)Dustedskipper(statethreatened)UnexpectedCycnia(stateendangered)
Notablereptilesandamphibiansinclude:Greenfrog NorthernleopardfrogAmericantoad Red-backedsalamanderGraytreefrog Easterngartersnake Easternfoxsnake andmelanisticformEasternhognosesnakeNorthernring-necked Snapping turtle snakeMidlandpaintedturtleBlanding’sturtle(Ohiorarespecies)Easternboxturtle(Ohiorarespecies)
Blister beetle
Eastern box turtle
Ebony jewel wing
Eastern hognose