Ottawa Gate

A team consisting of Columbus, OH sculptor David Black, Toledo architect Robert Fessler, and Toledo landscape architect John Squire designed this sculptural gazebo to serve as an entrance to Ottawa Park. David Black was a prolific sculptor with more than 40 major works around the world, described by the artist as "proto-architecture". Robert Fessler and John Squire were both founding members of Toledo architecture firm The Collaborative in 1973. The design for the gateway draws inspiration from the Native American thunderbird, and architecturally references the former conservatory within famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's design for Ottawa Park. Considered the father of American Landscape Architecture, Olmsted designed Ottawa Park as the largest park city park in Toledo, developed in the early 1890s on 280 acres of farmland.