Please use this as a supplement to information provided on any Metroparks maps.

Messages for InterpretationA place for passive recreation surrounded by ecological riches, Wiregrass Lake Metropark harbors globally rare wet prairies and unique combinations of plants and animals. • AsapartoftheOttawaRiverwatershed,WiregrassCreekoffersexceptionaltravelroutesforturtles,fish,and other aquatic species on the move.

• Stewardshipoftheman-madeWiregrassLakere-quiresmanagingitfornotonlycanoeingandfishingbutalsoforthebestdragonflydiversityinOhio.

• SituatedinthecenteroftheOakOpeningsRegioncorridor, this Metropark is a link in the effort to pre-serve local sites of high biodiversity.

• Balancingpopularrecreationalpursuitswithpreser-vation is critical for success at this park.

What’s In A Name?Wiregrass Lake was named after Wiregrass Creek which passes through the northern portion of the park and is partoftheOttawaRiverwatershed.Wiregrassisalsoa common name for the sedge, Carex lasiocarpa, which grows here.

Natural and Human HistoryWiregrassLakeMetroparkfeaturesaman-madelakethat was developed prior to the site being purchased by Metroparks.Todaythelakeisapopularspotforsport-fishingforbluegillandbass.SomeofthebestexamplesoftheOakOpeningsRegion’sgloballyrarewetprairiecommunity exist at this park, and it has been a site of extensive restoration by Metroparks land management crews.ThissmallMetroparkharborsnumerousstate-listed rare species that are monitored by volunteers, staff and research associates each year, such as Fringed gen-tian,VariegatedscouringrushandSpottedturtle.TherearemorespeciesofdragonfliesanddamselfliesknowntoWiregrassLakethananywhereelseinOhio,andsongbirddiversity is exceptional.

Wiregrass Lake was purchased in 2006 as part of the OakOpeningsCorridorbetweenSecorMetroparkandOakOpeningsPreserve.MuchofthecostofOakOpen-ings Corridor sites came from a successful and unprec-edented Metroparks Land Levy passed in 2002. Grants suchasCleanOhioalsoprovidedsubstantialpurchasingcostsforthesesites.AfuturetrailbeginningatSecorMetroparkandextendingtoOakOpeningsPreservewillconnect this Wiregrass Lake to other parklands within TheOakOpeningsCorridor.

Wiregrass Lake Metropark Highlights

Wiregrass Lake is a seasonal park, generally opened Apriltomid-November.Threeprimitivepubliccampsitesare available by reservation at Wiregrass Lake. Wire-grass Lake offers excellent kayaking and canoeing with a state-of-the-artaccessiblelaunchingdock.Fishingisalsopopularattheman-madepond.Toprotectthediversityofthedragonflypopulationthere,Metroparksasksthatanybank-fishingbedoneonlyfromthedockorstoneledgesaccessibleoffoftheBlueDasherTrail,andthatthe protected beach area at the south end of the lake remainofflimitstoanyfishing.

Wiregrass Lake

Purple false foxglove (Gerardia)

Swamp thistle

Riddell’s goldenrod Wiregrass sedge

Plant Life (*=State-listedasrare)SpringbeautyMay appleGreat white trilliumPurplefalsefoxglove (Gerardia)Wiregrass(sedge)Atlanticblue-eyedgrassPalespikedlobeliaCommon dogbaneDenseblazingstarSwampmilkweed

WildlifeSelect Odonata include:Western slender bluet Eastern AmberwingEasternforktail PrincebaskettailViolet(variable)dancer BluedasherSwampspreadwing WidowSkimmerDuskyandPronghorn Blacksaddlebags clubtails GreenandCometDarnersCalico,Bandedand Rubymeadowhawk HalloweenPennants

Other Notable Insects:Commonringlet Silver-spottedskipperPearlcrescent EasternbumblebeeMonarch Waterscorpion(lake)Viceroy

Amphibians/Reptiles include:Springpeeper SpottedturtleWesternchorusfrog Mid-landpaintedturtleGraytreefrog SnappingturtleGreen frog

Birds include: Cedarwaxwing BeltedkingfisherWhite-eyedvireo Rough-wingedswallowYellow warbler American woodcockIndigobunting Wilson’ssnipeFieldSparrow Red-tailedhawkSongsparrow

Mammals include:MinkEastern cottontailWhite-taileddeer

Fish include:(WiregrassCreek&SurroundingDitches)Northernpike GrasspickerelMud minnows

(WiregrassLake)Bluegill LargemouthbassChannelcatfish

Stayontrailsanduseprotectiveclothingandinsecticideto avoid poison ivy, American dog ticks and mosquitoes. (Note:ThereisnopoisonoakinNorthwestOhio.)

Western slender bluet

Calico pennant

Yellow warbler

Rough-winged swallow Spotted turtle

Eastern cottontail

American woodcock

Great white trillium

SwampthistleRidell’sgoldenrodHeath asterNewEnglandasterAmericanPokeweedCommonsneezeweedPrairieRattlesnakeroot(*)Fringedgentian(*)Variegatedhorsetail(*)BlackwillowPinoak

Atlantic blue-eyed grass

Grass pickerel