Ottawa - Toledo, OH

The Ottawa neighborhood was named after the Ottawa Indians, who inhabited the area in the early 1700s. The land that is now Ottawa Park was purchased by the city of Toledo in 1892 and was mainly a swampy area. Within five years, the area near the Ottawa River that held much of the swampy land had been drained. Roads, walkways and a trolley line were also added. The outline of Ottawa Park was based on a Frederick Law Olmstead design. Olmstead was a famous architect known for designing Central Park in New York City.

The Toledo Police Museum in Ottawa provides an interactive experience to teach visitors about the history of the Toledo Police Department. The museum hosts annual events such as the Cops and Rodders Car Show and Guns and Hoses Golf Outing. The University of Toledo Department of Art also hosts different exhibitions and events that Ottawa residents can enjoy.

If you have a taste for authentic Caribbean food, head to Dexter’s Jamaican Restaurant, also known as Caribbean Breeze Restaurant and Lounge. This modest eatery has a friendly atmosphere with dine-in options, carryout and a bar. The menu consists of Caribbean classics such as brown stew chicken, curry goat and oxtails. Try the callaloo and dumplings if you're looking for a meat-free dish. Dexter's has daily specials Monday through Friday and happy hour from 4 to 9 p.m.

Ferdos serves as a popular Mediterranean restaurant that sits just on the border of the neighborhood. Kabobs are a popular menu choice that you can order with shrimp, veggies, scallops and more. Accompany your entree with sides like rice or tabbouleh. The restaurant prides itself on the fresh pita bread- it's made from scratch every day and pairs wonderfully with the house-made hummus.

Another neighborhood favorite is Calvino’s Restaurant and Wine Bar. This Italian venue is known best for its pizza and wine selection. You can order your pizza with whatever toppings you like or choose from their house gourmet pizzas. Try the Eggplant Parmesan pizza, which comes with sautéed eggplant, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, tomatoes and pine nuts. Patrons also love Calvino’s stromboli, which come in three different sizes.

The Ottawa Tavern serves as the neighborhood’s go-to venue for live music and entertainment. This high-energy nightclub hosts a variety of events and performances throughout the year, and has something for everyone from free shows to game nights featuring games such as Cards Against Humanity. Ottawa Tavern has a full-service kitchen, so you won't go hungry with menu choices like the OT Mediterranean Burger served with tomato, cucumber and tzatziki sauce.

The area surrounding the University of Toledo offers nightlife options that are available to Ottawa residents.

Ottawa has a few different methods of transportation. Many people travel via automobile, but public transportation is also a very popular option. The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority services the community. One-way fares cost just $1. Interstates 475 and 75 run through the northeast border of the neighborhood, making traveling via highways conveniently accessible.

The main bicycle lanes are on the University of Toledo’s campus, but sidewalks run throughout the entire neighborhood. Taxis are readily available by phone. Uber is also an option option and wait times are usually between five and 10 minutes, except at rush hour.

Ottawa Park is the main neighborhood park and has a wide variety of amenities. Ottawa residents love this family-friendly park because of the picnic facilities, playground and forest areas that make it perfect for an afternoon outing. The park includes an amphitheater where many concerts and events are held in the summertime, and an open-air ice rink that is accessible during the winter and summer months. There are many other activities to choose from including tennis, golf, shuffleboard and sledding. This park is also the site of the annual Winterfest Ice Bowl.

Jermain Park sits adjacent to Ottawa Park and is known for being the only park in northwest Ohio featuring mountain bike trails. It is free and open to the public.

The University of Toledo supplies a variety of recreational facilities and programs including intramural sports, fitness classes and even swimming lessons. Many of these programs are for members and their guests only, but there are amenities open to the public for a fee.

The cost of living in Ottawa tends to be a little lower than the cost of living in the city of Toledo. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Ottawa is about $443 per month, compared to $515 in the rest of the city.

You can grab a beer at the Ottawa Tavern during happy hour for $2 to $3. Gas in this neighborhood is generally lower than the national average by about 8 percent.

Ottawa does not have any malls or boutiques directly in the neighborhood, but there are numerous shopping options within close proximity. The Westgate Village Shopping Center offers a nearby multipurpose shopping facility. It includes stores and services like Stein Mart, T-Mobile, Costco and a few eateries and beauty services. It also houses The Fresh Market grocery store. The Franklin Park Mall is about 3 miles away and is the premier shopping venue in Toledo. With over 100 stores and services to choose from, your shopping itinerary is easy to complete. Stores like Aldo, Buckle and Forever 21 occupy the mall and anchor stores include Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney and Dick's Sporting Goods. There is also a 16-theater movie complex, so the mall serves as a centralized area for visitors to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment. Aside from the grocery stores in the Westgate Village Shopping Center, Kroger and the Toledo Farmers Market are also grocery options. The Farmers Market runs year-round and is host to vendors of fresh produce, poultry, baked goods, flowers, handmade crafts and gourmet items.