The Geauga Park District is seeking financial assistance for conservation purposes through the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Grant Program.
The Geauga Park District is seeking financial assistance for conservation purposes through the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Grant Program.
During the Nov. 21 regular meeting, the GPD Board of Commissioners passed a resolution authorizing Executive Director John Oros to seek grant funding for the purchase and protection of the Bates Creek Preserve property in Hambden Township.
“Given the heart and soul of our mission to conserve and protect natural resources, we are excited about the opportunity,” Oros said.
The park district intends to fulfill Clean Ohio’s objective of preservation with the acquisition, according to the resolution.
The preservation of the Bates Creek Preserve property will protect 181.9 acres of high-quality habitat, which includes 97 acres of mature forest, 43 acres of Category 3 Wetlands, 37 acres of field/meadow habitat and a 5-acre pond.
Protection of the property would benefit water quality and safeguard vital nesting, breeding and feeding areas for native and migratory bird species, according to GPD.
Grant recipients from the Clean Ohio program agree to maintain properties in perpetuity so they can be enjoyed for generations to come, according to Ohio Public Works.
In other business, park commissioners discussed a resolution for the adoption of a $12,409,895 budget appropriations draft for 2023.
“These are proposed appropriations for the general fund and each department,” Oros said. “The final budget will be acted on at the Dec. 12 meeting.”
