Toledo Stories (WGTE)

Wildwood: Land As Good As Gold

CC. Wildwood: Land as Good as Gold Learn how the former R.A. Stranahan estate was preserved through a grassroots campaign to save the estate and its surroundings from the bulldozer and development. In the 1970s, after a decade-long effort to raise enough money for the Metroparks to purchase the estate, an injunction placed on the sale of the property to real estate developers gave Citizens for Metroparks one chance to pass a 0.5-mil levy, which would save the property. Volunteers distributed campaign leaflets to nearly 80 percent of the homes in Lucas County. The effort succeeded. Voters approved the levy, 64,490 to 58,577. The estate was acquired by Metroparks of the Toledo Area in 1975. Today, Wildwood Preserve's stately manor house, surrounded by acres of natural habitat, is one of the region's most popular attractions. "Wildwood: Good as Gold" is illustrated with rare newsreel and personal film footage, black and white, as well as full color, archival photographs and contemporary High Definition footage, capturing all four seasons in Wildwood Preserve. Key interviews include: Dr. Bill Mewborn, Citizens for MetroparksArt Weber, Naturalist/PhotographerSteve Pollick, WriterTed Ligibel, HistorianCharity Krueger, Environmental EducatorDr. Romules Durant, Toledo Public Schools SuperintendentKim High, Naturalist/Historic InterpreterScott Savage, Metroparks CommissionerJames Kimble, Former Metroparks Commissioner

Channel: WGTE HD

Length: 00:56:46 / Episode: 1301