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August 16, 2005
22 OHIO COMMUNITIES TO SHARE NEARLY $2 MILLION IN GRANTS
FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS
 COLUMBUS, OH - Local communities in 18 counties across Ohio will share $1,892,755 in federal Land & Water Conservation Fund grants to improve and expand their public outdoor recreational facilities, today announced the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The highest grant awards, totaling $200,000 each, went to the Village of Beverly in Washington County; the City of Massillon in Stark County and the Village of Morristown in Belmont County. Beverly’s grant will allow the village to renovate its municipal swimming pool. Massillon’s grant will help the city create a nature preserve. Morristown will develop a “splashpark” and trail in Morristown Park with its grant money.
“These grants are a wonderful resource for communities seeking to improve or increase recreational opportunities for their residents,” said ODNR Director Sam Speck. “Many of the local parks, trails, pools and other facilities that we enjoy today in Ohio were made possible through this program.”
The Land & Water Conservation Fund grant program is administered in the state by the ODNR, which reviews local applications and recommends grant recipients for final federal approval. Since the fund was initiated in 1965, more than $147 million has been awarded to projects in Ohio. With the addition of local match-dollars, this has resulted in local public recreational improvements throughout the state.
The 22 local projects recommended for funding this year were selected from a total of 56 applicants. The federal government provides up to 50 percent reimbursement for a public outdoor recreation project through each Land & Water Conservation Fund grant, while the local agency is responsible for the remainder. Federal funds supporting the program are derived from offshore oil lease revenues and other non-tax sources.
| County |
Project Sponsor |
|
Amount |
|
Project |
| Ashtabula |
City of Conneaut |
|
$29,000 |
|
Develop pond, wetlands and observation deck at Malek Park |
| Belmont |
Village of Morristown |
|
$200,000 |
|
Develop splashpark and trail at Morristown |
| Butler |
Hanover Township |
|
$66,588 |
|
Create walking path at Memorial Park |
| Fulton |
Village of Archbold |
|
$56,993 |
|
Develop playground at Woodland Park |
| Jefferson |
Warren Township |
|
$12,349 |
|
Renovate wading pool at Warren Township swim pool |
| Madison |
Jefferson Township |
|
$16,397 |
|
Develop trail, access and picnic area for community park |
| Mahoning |
Goshen Township |
|
20,268 |
|
Develop trail and two pavilions at Bricker Homestead park |
| Marion |
Pleasant Township |
|
$15,288 |
|
Acquire approximately 12.5 acres to expand township park |
| Mercer |
Village of St. Henry |
|
$146,703 |
|
Acquire approximately 15 acres for North Park |
| Miami |
Village of Bradford |
|
$39,000 |
|
Develop loop trail in village park |
| |
Miami County Park District |
|
$173,784 |
|
Acquire nearly 105 acres |
| |
Bethel Township |
|
$10,129 |
|
Acquire approximately 4 acres for Frey memorial Friendship Park |
| Muskingum |
Jackson Township |
|
$134,000 |
|
Acquire nearly 23 acres for township park |
| Portage |
City of Ravenna |
|
$73,635 |
|
Develop parking and restrooms for Chestnut Hills trailhead |
| Stark |
City of Massillon |
|
$200,00 |
|
Acquire more than 76 acres to create Massillon Nature Preserve |
| |
Stark County Park District |
|
$69,865 |
|
Develop Canalway Learning Center |
| Tuscarawas |
Lawrence Township |
|
$32,500 |
|
Acquire nearly 10 acres for a park |
| Van Wert |
Village of Willshire |
|
$14,964 |
|
Develop loop trail in village park |
| |
Van Wert Park District |
|
$34,034 |
|
Acquire approximately 10 acres for Van Wert County Aquatic Center |
| Warren |
Franklin Township |
|
$27,500 |
|
Develop fishing pond at Hunter Park |
| Washington |
Village of Beverly |
|
$200,00 |
|
Renovate municipal swimming pool |
| Wood |
City of Perrysburg |
|
$27,258 |
|
Develop trail at the municipal park |
|
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