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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2004

NEARLY $800,000 IN NATUREWORKS GRANTS AWARDED FOR
LOCAL PARK AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

COLUMBUS, OH -- Twenty-nine Ohio communities in 23 counties will receive a total of $785,961 in state NatureWorks grants for community park and recreational improvements, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The NatureWorks grants represent the tenth round of nearly $56,000,000 in grants funded by the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Fund bond issue, approved by voters in 1993. Each grant requires a 25 percent local match.

“Ohioans across the state continue to benefit from the investment of NatureWorks grants in their hometown parks and recreational facilities,” said ODNR Director Sam Speck. “NatureWorks grants have significantly helped enhance Ohio’s community parks, improving existing outdoor recreational facilities and creating new opportunities.”

ODNR received a total of 35 applications for this round of NatureWorks grants, which were only available to counties with unspent funding. A population-based formula, adopted by the General Assembly in 1994, is used to determine the proportional share of grant funds available in each county. Applications are then ranked competitively by ODNR on a broad range of criteria.

The NatureWorks bond issue program, designed to fund major renovations and improvements for Ohio's state and local parks, state forests, nature preserves, wildlife areas and other natural resources facilities, was established in 1994, following voter approval the previous year.

NatureWorks Grants - 10th Round
COUNTY APPLICANT AMOUNT PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Adams Meigs Township Trustees $30,864 Jacksonville Park Project Construct restroom, picnic area and playground
Village of Manchester $30,000 Kinfolk's Landing Park Develop observation tower and shelter
Wayne Township $56,339 Township Park Develop tennis court, basketball court, playground, shelter, walking track, and landscaping.
Allen City of Lima $2,920 Robb Park Grade three baseball fields
Ashland Sullivan Township $3,544 Community Park Construct pavilion
Ashtabula City of Conneaut $34,688 Jefferson/Broad Street Skatepark Build skatepark
Ashtabula County Metroparks $42,820 Western Reserve Greenway Construct .6 miles of trail
Clark Bethel Township $47,000 Raynor Park Develop playground and landscaping, rehabilitate parking lot and basketball court
Clinton Clinton County Park District $28,229 Anilot Davidson Nature Preserve Develop access, parking, fencing, shelter, benches, and trash receptacles
Columbiana City of East Palestine $1,019 City Park Rehabilitate the contour wall of the pond
Gallia Village of Crown City $7,500 Crown City Park Construct ball field and playground, rehabilitate basketball court
O.O. McIntyre Park District $46,248 Raccoon Creek County Park Rehabilitate basketball court, tennis court, two picnic shelters
Geauga Hambden Township $15,900 Township Park Construct shelter and playground
Hocking Hocking County Commissioners $76,416 Logan/Union Furnace Trail Acquire approximately 83 acres to develop future trail
Holmes Village of Millersburg $20,313 Deer Run Park Develop restroom
Jackson City of Jackson $22,000 Manpower Park Construct walking path and benches
Knox Knox County Commissioners $8,905 Kokosing Gap Trail Rehabilitate a 4.6 mile segment of the trail
Marion Pleasant Township $40,000 Township Park Develop parking, restrooms, trail, sewage system, shelter and water line
Village of LaRue $20,586 City Park Develop baseball and football/soccer fields
Meigs Village of Racine $15,225 Star Mill Park Pave existing trail
Miami Miami County Park District $20,887 Greenville Falls Acquire approximately 7 acres
Morgan Morgan County Commissioners $16,875 The Grove Construct playground and gazebo
Morrow Morrow County Park District $18,750 Cedar Fork Park Construct bridge
Muskingum Muskingum Valley Park District $28,000 OUZ Trail Construct trail and bridge
Paulding Village of Antwerp $4,056 Riverside Veterans Memorial Park Rehabilitate access road and existing stone parking lots
Paulding County Commissioners $10,537 Black Swamp Nature Center Develop two docks, demolish restrooms, replace pump and rehabilitate water control structure
Pike City of Waverly $18,000 New Park Construct ball fields
Ross Ross County Park District $90,740 Buzzards Roost Construct shelter/restroom
Scioto Village of Rarden  $27,600 Rarden Park Construct playground, parking lot, landscaping, fencing
TOTAL $785,961

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860