Building Our Legacy
Created in 1998 to mark the 100th anniversary of Rossford’s founding, the Edward Ford Memorial Park is nestled adjacent to businesses and companies where immigrants and families first flocked to live when Edward Ford built his “company town.” Read more about Rossford’s fascinating beginnings here.
The Edward Ford Memorial Park is the perfect location for residents and visitors to enjoy programs, presentations, and entertainment that are a nod to Rossford’s cultural heritage, and a bow to area craftsman and artists who showcase glass and its history in exciting visual formats.
Its future
In September 2017, The Rossford Convention and Visitors Bureau created a committee to determine how to maximize use of the Edward Ford Memorial Park. The committee reviewed best practices for destination land usage with the help of volunteers from the Toledo Design Collective. The committee concluded that the Edward Ford Memorial Park was ideally suited as both a historical site and a destination for arts and cultural programming to draw residents and visitors to the park. The plans became the Building Our Legacy campaign.
Click here for the complete Building Our Legacy Case for Support.
Our Legacy 
Phase 1: Building Our Legacy
Upgrades and additions to the Edward Ford Memorial Park.
Using the architectural guidance of the Toledo Design Collaborative, the stage area of the pavilion in the Edward Ford Memorial Park will be extended, a deck will be added, and obtrusive fencing will be removed.
Phase 2: Building Our Legacy
Create an interactive, digital display at Edward Ford Memorial Park
With a click of a button, visitors can explore the history of Rossford in engaging interactive displays, including:
- An interactive map of “Where in the World” do you find Libbey Owens Ford Glass (from the Empire State Building, to American cars, to the former World Trade Center, to the art deco building murals using Rossford’s one-of-a-kind Vitrolite glass in 24 different colors.
- A scrolling timeline from the early Native American Indian mounds to present day Rossford
- An engaging interactive demonstration of the glass making process, with videos, text, photos, etc.
- Audio of Rossford’s cultural history shared by first and second-generation Rossford residents.
- A patent timeline of some of the city’s most memorable contributions to the glass industry.
The display will be updated regularly with new interactive content and will feature upcoming events and programming.
Its Proven Potential
Please Help Build
Our Legacy
Please help us create an immersive cultural and historical experience for visitors and Rossford residents. Your gift will ensure that our story is preserved, told, and brought to life through exciting programs, musical entertainment, and performances that share our rich heritage. Businesses, foundations, and individuals are all invited and encouraged to support the Building Our Legacy campaign.
Read more about donor and sponsorship options here.
We would be happy to discuss donor options in more detail with you. Please contact Beth Genson, Executive Director, Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau at [email protected] or 419.308.7530.
Thank you for helping us to build Rossford’s legacy!
Stroll the Street Video below