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Description of the Proposed Project
The City of Maumee requests ISTEA funding for the acquisition of a 185.205 acre parcel which lies a the junction of US Route 24 and Interstate 475. This site has recently been identified as the location of a major portion of the site of the Battle of Fallen Timbers which occurred on August 20, 1794. The acquisition of the site of this National Historic Landmark Battle would be the initial stage of a plan to preserve the site as an historic park through the cooperative efforts of the Toledo Area, the Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor, Inc., the Ohio Historical Society and the National Park Service. All of these agencies are on record as recognizing the historic nature of the property, the national significance of the battle, and the under-representation of this event in the history of expansion of the United States.
The project would result in the purchase of 185.205 acres of property from the current owner, the City of Toledo, in order to protect the battlefield from an existing threat of commercial development. Estimated cost of the acquisition of the several parcels which comprise the site is based upon currently assessed valued of the property. At an current average tax appraised value of $13,300 per acre, the estimated cost of the property is $2,463,226.50. The City of Maumee requests Transportation Enhancement Program (ISTEA) funding in the amount of $1,970,581.20 and will contribute the local share of $492,645.30.
In 1995, investigation of historic documents relating to the battle and an archaeological field investigation independently established the location of the Battle of Fallen Timbers adjacent to the intersection of I-475 and US Route 24 and astride the path of the "Great Trail". The surrounding accounts of participants in the battle contain descriptions of the terrain and vegetation patterns which generally match the area and describe a ravine system which is still evident within the Toledo owned parcel. An archaeological survey in the Summer of 1995 recovered more than 345 battle related artifacts including 37 uniform buttons bearing the insignia of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne Legion of the United States and 265 of the bullets fired by the Legion and its adversary, a coalition of Native American tribes and their British allies. Archaeological remains were found in all parts of the 185.205 acre property.
The creation of an historic park will protect and preserve both the archaeological site and the historic site from destruction by commercial development and provide a facility for interpreting the contest between the expansive interests of the United States and the Native American resistance to settlement of the Old Northwest, a period which is identified by the National Park Service as underrepresented in their park system.
In addition to the Historic and Archaeological nature of this project, the creation of this park has the potential to enhance both the Scenic and Environmental and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility components of the Transportation Enhancement Program.
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