Special to The Truth
The City of Toledo has been awarded $1,107,700 through the FY24 Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program by the U.S. Department of Transportation. These funds will support planning, design, and community engagement for the Swan Creek Greenway project, a transformative initiative to reconnect the Junction neighborhood with downtown Toledo via a multi-use trail.
“Today we are celebrating continued efforts to reconnect the Junction neighborhood to Downtown Toledo. Through enterprising efforts working alongside the Junction Coalition and ConnectToledo in partnership with the City of Toledo, we are continuing to bring vital funds home for Swan Creek redevelopment that will help to reconnect communities,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).
“With these efforts aimed at reconnecting neighborhoods, we are working to ensure Toledo’s central city communities regain access to clean and healthy recreation, access to healthy foods at our Farmer’s Market, and employment opportunities. Together, we are building on the work of past efforts to implement meaningful improvements within our neighborhoods, and I applaud the Junction Coalition, ConnecToledo, and Mayor Kapszukiewicz for their ingenuity. This funding, made possible by my work in congress, shows once again that our communities benefit when we access federal resources from legislation aimed at improving the quality of life in communities throughout our region of Northwest Ohio.”
“This $1.1 million grant from the Department of Transportation enables us to take a significant step toward realizing a vision for Swan Creek that is the product of extensive community planning, engagement, and collaboration,” said Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. “Identified as a priority in the Junction McClinton-Nunn Choice Neighborhoods Plan and Forward Toledo, this project builds on years of work to create a more connected, vibrant city. Working closely with the Junction Coalition and residents of the neighborhood, we are turning bold plans into tangible progress for the residents of Toledo.”
The Swan Creek Greenway Planning project envisions a revitalized Swan Creek corridor as a natural and recreational asset that strengthens connections between Junction and downtown. It will provide a safe and dedicated pedestrian and bicycle connection to vital resources, including good-paying jobs, green space, and healthy food options, which have historically been inaccessible to many Junction residents due to decades of disinvestment and infrastructure barriers – particularly the construction of Interstate 75 in the 1960s, which displaced Junction residents and cut the neighborhood off from downtown.
The City of Toledo will partner closely with the Junction Coalition, a grassroots community-based organization, to ensure that residents’ voices shape the planning and design process. A formal community advisory framework will be developed to guide the project, incorporating input gathered from the Junction Coalition’s ongoing capacity-building work, supported by a National Coastal Resilience Fund grant. The advisory framework will help integrate nature-based solutions, such as flood mitigation, into the greenway design and ensure that the project supports broader resilience planning efforts in the Swan Creek watershed.
“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of the Junction community,” said Alicia Smith, Executive Director of the Junction Coalition. “By bringing the voices of our residents to the forefront, we’re ensuring that the Swan Creek Greenway is not just a trail, but a symbol of reconnection, resilience, and opportunity.”
Community engagement will remain central throughout the project. The Junction Coalition will organize a series of workshops and educational sessions where residents can provide feedback and share ideas for the greenway design. Community ambassadors, identified and supported by the Junction Coalition, will help drive outreach and ensure meaningful participation from all stakeholders.
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and created in 2022, the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program aims to help revitalize and reconnect communities cut off from opportunity by past transportation infrastructure decisions. The planning grant is the second reconnecting-focused grant awarded to the City by USDOT, following a $28.5 million award announced last year for improvements to Front St. and Main St. in east Toledo.
The Swan Creek Greenway Planning project is part of a broader effort to leverage public and private investment to revitalize Toledo’s neighborhoods while ensuring equity and inclusion in the city’s resurgence. With the support of the Department of Transportation and the community’s collective vision, Toledo is taking another critical step toward building a brighter, more connected future.
####