Not all frogs to hop off streets right away

10/2/2001

Some of Toledo's downtown frogs will stick around for a few weeks past their deadline for removal thanks to what organizers of “It's Reigning Frogs” said was a “public outcry” to keep them in place.

An undetermined number of the 109 frog sculptures in the popular display will stay on the streets through the end of the month.

“Our phone lines have been jammed with people saying how much they've enjoyed them,” said Lissa Guyton, executive director of the frog project. “This weekend, I went down to take pictures, and they were lined up five deep at every frog.”

All the frogs were to be removed this week, but Ms. Guyton said city organizers asked sponsors of 50 of the frogs to leave them on the streets through the end of the month.

She said she's not sure how many sponsors will leave their frogs out. Six frogs are being sponsored by various city departments, and those will stay on the streets this month. Six more are being used in city parks over water fountains, and those will stay until Nov. 1.

Ms. Guyton said 60 frogs will be removed this week and have been donated by the sponsors to be sold Oct. 25 for a minimum of $1,000 each at an auction at SeaGate Centre.

Tickets to the auction are $25, or $75 if you want to bid on a frog.

Half the proceeds will go to charities designated by the frog's sponsor. The other half will be split between the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo and CitiFest.

Ms. Guyton said she and other city officials are so pleased with the success of the frog sculptures that they're meeting to decide whether to bring back the frogs, or even new ones or other kinds of sculptures, next year.