On or after April 14, 2026, the City of Toledo will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds under the Housing and Community Development Acts of 1974 and 1992 to undertake the following project:

Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Neighborhood Parks Improvement Program

Purpose: The program involves the revitalization of parks in the low- to moderate-income census tracts in the City of Toledo. Park improvements will include, but limited to, installation of new open-air picnic shelters, installation of shells around the stages, add sun sails, and new sidewalks in the parks. The improvements will contribute towards enhancement of the City’s neighborhoods and reduction of slum and blight. Although individual projects have not been identified at this time, environmental reviews will be conducted for each identified property before construction activities begin. Individual sites will be reviewed for compliance with federal laws and authorities listed in 24 CFR Part 58. The program does not include new construction or conversion of land use. The length of time covered by this review is five (5) years.

Location: Although the program will cover the entire city, priority will be given to a focused area consisting of 41 census tracts. They are: 4.00, 8.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.02, 13.02, 4.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00, 22.00, 24.01, 24.02, 25.00, 28.00, 29.00, 30.00, 31.00, 32.00, 33.00, 35.00, 36.0.0, 37.00, 39.00, 40.00, 42.00, 44.00, 46.00, 47.01, 47.02, 48.00, 50.00, 51.00, 53.00, 54.00, 68.00, 73.03, 74.00, 85.00, and 103.00.

Project/Program Description: Park improvements will include, but limited to, installation of new open-air picnic shelters, installation of shells around the stages, add sun sails, and new sidewalks in the parks. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known.

Level of Environmental Review Citation: 58.35(a)(3)

Tier 2 Site Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: Historic Preservation, Contamination and Toxic Substances, and Explosive and Flammable Hazards.

Mitigation Measures/Conditions/Permits:
Contamination and Toxic Substances: It is HUD policy that projects that involve the use of federal funds be free of contamination and hazardous materials, radioactive substances, toxic chemicals and gases that can affect the health and safety of residents. Site visits will be conducted for every site-specific project to ensure that the property is not contaminated. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) will be used as a resource to conduct environmental review of properties. Ohio EPA and/or the City of Toledo’s Environmental Services will be contacted when situations with potential negative impact on the environment are encountered during review of a project.
Explosive and Flammable Hazards: It is HUD policy that projects that use federal funds be free of explosive and flammable materials. Site visits will be conducted and research done for every site-specific project to ensure that the site is not hazardous and does not pose any health threat to the public.
Historic Preservation: The City of Toledo has a Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) which outlines a process for historic reviews. Each identified property will be reviewed per the stipulations in Section 106. Items not covered by the PA will be sent to SHPO for review.

Estimated Project Cost:
CDBG AMOUNT: $5,000,000.00
TOTAL: $5,000,000.00

The activity/activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 58.35(a)(4). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City of Toledo, Department of Housing and Community Development and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:30 A.M to 3:30 P.M. or at https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/environmental-reviews. The ERR will also be made available to the public for review electronically. Please submit your request to Andrew.sager@toledo.oh.gov.

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Toledo, Department of Housing and Community Development. All comments received by April 13, 2026, will be considered by the City of Toledo prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

The City of Toledo certifies to HUD that Wade Kapszukiewicz, Certifying Officer, in his capacity as Mayor consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Toledo to use HUD program funds.

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Toledo’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Toledo; (b) the City of Toledo has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to CPD Director, HUD Columbus Field Office at cpdcolumbusrrof@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Wade Kapszukiewicz, Certifying Officer
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