Many more outdoor recreational activities could soon be available in Portage County, thanks to a recent large land acquisition.
The Portage Park District purchased the 215-acre property located north of Howe Road in Kent and Brimfield Township. Much of it could be categorized as rough land, which will need to be shaped up before local residents start hiking and biking on it.
But the possibilities are exciting, said Christine Craycroft, executive director of the Portage Park District.
“Some of the terrain is rugged in places and would be suited for mountain bike trails,” Craycroft said. “There would also be plenty of land for picnic shelters and a possible hike and bike trail, which could connect to other operating districts.”
The acquisition increases the district land from about 1,500 acres to more than 1,700.
The land was owned by Carter Jones Lumber Co.
The property was acquired for $1.68 million, Craycroft said.
The acquisition was made possible by a partnership with Carter Jones, the park district, the nonprofit Ohio Valley Conservation Coalition and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.
Clean Ohio grant
The park district received a Clean Ohio Greenspace Conservation Fund grant for $1,395,000 toward the project, matched by more than $600,000 in funding the conservation coalition secured for acquisition through the Ohio EPA’s Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program.
Money left over after the property was purchased will be used for ecological restoration of the property, Craycroft said.
“A project of this scope can be complex and often requires multiple public and private partners and funding sources,” said Joel Wood, chairman of the conservation coalition. “We are proud that our organization could play a role in conserving this important natural resource.”
Rolling hills, old fields, mature woods, more than one-half mile of Plum Creek and more than 50 acres of high-quality sphagnum peat bog — a rare ecosystem in Ohio — make up the property. It is adjacent to the Tom S. Cooperrider Kent Bog State Nature Preserve.
“The property was formerly mined for sand and gravel,” Craycroft said. “Carter Jones purchased the property a long time ago. I’m not sure what their interest was then. It was not for timbering, though, mainly as an investment.”
Conservation goal
Craycroft said the property, including the rest of the high-quality bog area, had been identified as a conservation target by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the park district and other organizations for years.
The passage of the park district’s first-ever levy in 2014 provided some financial stability, she said, so “the time seemed right to contact Chuck Price [Carter Jones vice president for construction/development] to see if they were interested in selling.”
“That’s when I learned that the Ohio Valley Conservation Coalition, a nonprofit land trust, already had an agreement with them and were seeking funding for the 75-acre eastern portion of the property,” said Craycroft. “OVCC agreed to collaborate to acquire a larger area by assigning their purchase agreement and funding, so that the park district would own and manage the entire property.
“The permanent protection of an important natural area in a region under high development pressure not only helps to buffer the nature preserve. It also protects rare species, water quality and wildlife habitat. Meanwhile, it has tremendous potential for healthy recreation and nature education.”
It will take “a couple of years” before the property can be used by the public on a regular basis, said Craycroft. Developing a master plan is the next step.
“It’s exciting to think about the creative possibilities for park design, considering the landscape and its location,” she said. “We’re looking forward to engaging the public along the way as we move forward with the planning process.”
Concern about cuts
Proposed cuts to the EPA and environmental programs by the new administration in Washington, D.C., is another concern.
“I’m hopeful the government funding remains in place,” Craycroft said. “Protecting our most vital resources and places where the public can go free of charge is a huge benefit for the community, protecting water quality and public enjoyment. It improves property values, economic development and quality of life. It is a vital part of our community.”