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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WILLIAMS FULTON

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Pearson Metropark

Withinthepastdecade,thenon-nativeEmeraldashborerbeetlehasdestroyedmanytreesatPearson.

Stayontrailsanduseprotectiveclothingandinsecticidetoavoidpoisonivy,ticks,Yellowjacketsandmosquitoes.

(Note:ThereisnopoisonoakinNorthwestOhio.)

Big brown bat