Thanks to a partnership between government agencies, private donors and a nonprofit land trust, 504 acres once slated for development will now be the Portage Park District’s largest park. The Park District and Western Reserve Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization working to preserve natural areas and farms throughout northern Ohio, have announced the acquisition of the Upper Cuyahoga Bog Preserve, which is south of the Ohio Turnpike and east of state Route 44 in Shalersville Township. Christine Craycroft, Park District Executive Director, said that because of the restrictions imposed by the grants, which were for water quality protection and wildlife habitat, plans for the property will be for passive uses such as hiking, bird watching and educational programs. The property is home to several rare and endangered species, including the yellow-bellied sapsucker bird. The wetlands, woods and fields also protect 8,000 linear feet of a tributary to the Upper Cuyahoga River. The Land Conservancy will hold a conservation easement on the property, which is an agreement that provides extra assurance that the natural and scenic resources are permanently protected.  “It’s a beautiful property that will provide value and enjoyment for the public for generations to come” said Craycroft, who has headed the district since 1998.  “Now we’re looking forward to developing management plans and seeking community support—donations and volunteers—to open it as a park.” The opportunity to acquire the property was made possible with the professional assistance of the Land Conservancy, which helped apply for funding through the state’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund.  In this case, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District sponsored acquisition of the land as part of the loan agreement it has with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for improvement of its sewer system. The program makes efficient use of EPA dollars for water quality by linking watershed protection with sewer system funding. Chris Szell, Associate Director of regional conservation for the Land Conservancy, said regional cooperation was the key to obtaining funding for the park.  Szell commended NEORSD for acknowledging that stormwater runoff problems and watershed protection issues extend beyond community boundaries.  The Land Conservancy also secured a Clean Ohio grant for the project as well as funding from foundations and partner organizations, however no funds from Portage County were used. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio Native Plant Society, Kent State University and Davey Resources Group each donated expertise to inventory the biological resources. The park project also had the support of Shalersville Township trustees, who have viewed conservation of the land as a cost-effective alternative to the hundreds of acres of housing that had recently been proposed for the site.  Before that, in 1991, there was a proposal to build an international freight airport on the property.  Those plans never materialized. View an aerial photo and learn more about our newest park!

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