Grants awarded for 3 local parks

KELLEYS ISLAND — A state agency recently awarded about $1.3 million for three park projects to preserve natural spaces in Erie and Ottawa counties. The Ohio Public Works Commission awarded $19.2 million to 37 conservation projects across Ohio under the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program, which aims to protect natural areas, rivers and streams. Those grants include one in Erie County and two in Ottawa County. Here are details on each project with details outlined in commission grant documents: Erie County — Quinn Preserve on Kelleys Island The commission released grant documents to the Register that provide details on the three local projects. In Erie County, Kelleys Island secured about $372,000 to add 13 acres of forest and meadow to Quinn Preserve, which currently has 18 acres. The property will be owned by the Kelleys Island Park District. It's located in the southeast part of the island, about one-fourth mile from Lake Erie. It's next to Kelleys Island State Park and by the island's airport, which can be reached by Monaghan Road. The estimated cost is about $572,000 with another $200,000 coming from North American Wetlands Conservation Act funds. Most of the cost is to purchase the property. Ottawa County — Pitera on Catawba Island/Victory Woods Preserve on Put-in-Bay The two Ottawa County projects are an award to Ottawa County's park district to acquire the Pitera property on Catawba Island and to Put-in-Bay's park district for Victory Woods Preserve. The award of about $302,000 to Ottawa County's park district will be used to buy the 7.6-acre Pitera property, located at 3655 NW Catawba Road on Catawba Island. The new park is located between the intersections with East Weyhe Road to the north and East Jane's Lane to the south. The park district plans to use the property as a natural conservation area and as a passive public park. It plans to remove invasive species from the property, replacing them with native plants and trees. Long-term plans call for a small parking area and trailhead near NW Catawba Road and a trail that goes across the property and connects to a recreational trail planned for land that's next door to the east. "We are tremendously grateful for the support as we work together to connect, enhance and protect the natural, scenic, environmental and cultural resources of Ottawa County," said Jannah Wilson, the park district's executive director. The grant of about $651,000 to Put-in-Bay will help purchase a total of more than 2.6 acres of Victory Woods property located northeast of South Bass Island State Park. "Victory Woods is a unique island forest mosaic of hackberry, basswood and sugar maple that was a conservation target of the Ohio chapter of the Nature Conservancy with wildflowers, rock outcrops, snakes and migratory songbird habitat," a project description explains. "The park district currently owns several lots in this complex, and this acquisition increases protection to lots that have come available," it continued. "The Richard A. Tybout Trust property is located on the west shore of South Bass Island and contains rare alvar habitat and harebells and is located adjacent to a public boat ramp which will provide substantial passive park opportunity. This property will be purchased and a life estate granted to one of the sellers." The project is also being supported by a $245,000 of land donation value and about $107,000 from the park district. While the properties are being purchased from Barry and Lynn Adler and from the Richard A. Tybout Trust, the sellers are accepting less than the appraised values for the two parcels, providing the $245,000 of land donations, with the Adlers donating a value of $150,000.