News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2007 MORE THAN $1.7 MILLION IN NATUREWORKS GRANTS AWARDED FOR LOCAL PARK, RECREATIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS COLUMBUS, OH - Ninety-six Ohio communities in 72 counties will receive a total of $1,757,929 in state NatureWorks grants for local park and recreational improvements through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). These NatureWorks grants represent the 14th round of more than $56 million 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. “NatureWorks grants are excellent tools for making sure young Ohioans have greater access to the outdoors,” said Sean D. Logan, director of ODNR. “They are a key component of our larger campaign to strengthen the connections between nature, fitness and life-long learning.” ODNR received a total of 164 applications for this round of NatureWorks grants. A population-based formula is used to determine the share of grant funds available to each county. Applications are then ranked competitively by ODNR on a broad range of criteria. The NatureWorks bond issue program funds major renovations and improvements for Ohio's state and local parks, state forests, nature preserves, wildlife areas and other natural resources facilities. County Recipient Description Grant Amt Adams Village of West Union Develop access and parking at Satterfield Park $30,691 Allen Village of Bluffton Develop a playground at Buckeye Park $12,750 Allen Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District Develop access and parking at Bluffton Recreation Area $1,706 Ashland Village of Polk Develop swing set, basketball hoop and sidewalk at Polk Park $9,780 Ashtabula Williamsfield Township Develop playground at Williamsfield Community Center $14,002 Athens City of Athens Construction of a new shelterhouse at West State Street Park $10,200 Auglaize Village of Waynesfield Develop drainage system, parking area and grass surface $9,286 Belmont City of Martins Ferry Develop ball field for Hillandale Little League Ball Field $11,250 Brown Village of Higginsport Develop playground for Colonel Higgins Park $26,100 Butler City of Monroe Develop walking path for Monroe Crossings Park $33,205 Carroll Village of Minerva Develop a pavilion for Rotary Park $7,800 Champaign Concord Township Develop playground and renovate parking for Concord Community Park $8,641 Clark Bethel Township Develop parking and picnic areas for Crystal Lakes Park $17,487 Clermont Village of Bethel Develop skate park at Burke Park $18,750 Clinton Village of Sabina Develop community stage at Sabina Village Park $5,029 Columbiana Village of Lisbon Develop playground and renovate shelter floor at Willow Grove Park $5,775 Columbiana Village of Wellsville Develop sidewalk and benches at Broadway Park $8,993 Coshocton Regional Airport Authority Develop Coshocton County Amphitheater $8,250 Crawford City of Galion Develop playground at Heise Park $9,316 Cuyahoga City of Warrensville Heights Renovate playground at Senior & Civic Center Park $59,667 Cuyahoga City of South Euclid Develop splash park and playground at Quarry Park $62,224 Darke Village of New Weston Develop a picnic area for Village Park $3,277 Darke Village of Osgood Develop a playground for Village Park $6,596 Delaware Preservation Parks Develop shelter for Emily Traphagen Preserve $27,919 Fairfield Walnut Township Develop baseball field at Fairfield Beach Family Park $15,650 Fayette City of Washington C.H. Develop playground at Washington Park $7,767 Franklin Village of Groveport Develop playground for Groveport Park $42,157 Franklin City of Columbus Acquire 16 acres for Georges Creek Corridor $52,572 Fulton Village of Wauseon Renovate playground at South Park $8,908 Gallia O.O. McIntrye Park District Renovation of shelter roof at Raccoon Creek Park $7,500 Geauga Village of South Russell Acquisition of 86 acres known as the Muggleton property $6,583 Guernsey Richland Township Renovate two ballfields at Richland Township Baseball Diamond $8,800 Hamilton Crosby Township Develop baseball field and shelter at Crosby Township Community Center $42,000 Hamilton City of Reading Renovate tennis courts at Observatory Park $58,875 Hamilton Norwood Recreation Commission Renovate park equipment, restrooms, ballfield and parking lot at Fenwick Park $38,554 Hancock Village of McComb Renovate McComb Cloe Griener Memorial Park $11,349 Harrison Village of Hopedale Development of a playground at Hopedale Park $6,716 Henry Henry County Park District Develop culverts for Miami & Erie Canal Towpath Trail $51,219 Henry Village of Hamler Renovate pond at Hamler Reservoir $3,000 Highland Hillsboro Recreation Commission Develop restroom at Shaffer Park $8,807 Hocking City of Logan Develop an ADA playground at Mingo Park $7,750 Holmes Holmes County Park District Develop a section of the Holmes County Trail $44,000 Jackson City of Jackson Develop a softball field at Eddie Jones Park Baseball Complex $8,118 Jefferson City of Toronto Renovate pool at War Memorial Pool $10,000 Knox Knox County Park District Develop dog park at Wolf Run Regional Dog Park $4,950 Knox Fredericktown Recreation District Developing parking area for Community Park $19,334 Knox Hiller Township Trustees Renovate shelter houses at Centerburg Community Memorial Park $11,205 Lawrence Fayette Township Renovate basketball court, develop shelter and fencing for Commons Park $10,900 Lawrence Village of Chesapeake Develop playground at Community Park $7,500 Lawrence Village of Proctorville Develop a playground at Community Park $7,500 Lawrence City of Ironton Develop streambank for Ironton Riverfront Park $37,500 Licking Village of Johnstown Develop playground and access drive at Hannah’s Memorial Park $23,138 Licking City of Heath Develop baseball and soccer fields at Licking View Athletic Fields $6,577 Logan Bellefontaine Joint Recreational District Develop skate park at Blue Jacket Park $49,141 Logan Logan County Commissioners Renovate baseball field at Lewistown Park in Washington Township $9,874 Lorain City of North Ridgeville Acquisition of 15 acres for the Shady Drive Complex $29,181 Lucas Olander Park System Build a restroom at Fossil Park $21,548 Lucas Metropolitan Park District Renovate restroom at Swan Creek Preserve $21,873 Mahoning Austintown Township Develop baseball field at Township Park $20,000 Mahoning Beaver Township Develop playground at Woodworth Park $6,915 Marion Grandview Estates Park District Develop basketball court at Grandview Estates Park $10,925 Meigs Village of Pomeroy Develop walking path and pond at Beech Grove Cemetery Pond $7,319 Mercer Village of Coldwater Renovate tennis courts at Memorial Park $8,811 Miami Tipp City Develop a dog park at Kyle Park $13,700 Monroe Village of Beallsville Develop lighting for Beallsville Village Park $6,659 Montgomery City of Brookville Develop trail and walking path at Golden Gate Park $52,114 Morrow Village of Cardington Develop playground at Maxwell Park $17,906 Muskingum Jackson Township Develop concession/restroom building at Township Park $12,789 Paulding Village of Scott Develop a playground at the village park $7,087 Perry Village of Roseville Renovate pool at Roseville Municipal Swimming Pool $8,263 Pickaway Monroe Township Develop playground at Monroe Township Park $9,797 Pike Village of Beaver Development of playground at Village Community Park $7,705 Portage Deerfield Township Develop a walking trail at Town Hall Park $18,640 Preble Preble County Park District Develop boardwalk at the nature center $9,989 Putnam Village of Columbus Grove Develop restroom at Hall Avenue Park $8,293 Richland Village of Lexington Renovate lighting at Community Park $99,500 Sandusky Village of Woodville Development of playground at Trail Marker Park $6,247 Sandusky Ballville Township Develop restroom at Conner Park $4,308 Scioto Madison Township Development of basketball court, volleyball court and playground at Madison Township Community Center $5,000 Scioto Nile Township Development of playground at Nile Township Community Park $7,000 Shelby City of Sidney Development of walking path at Orbison Park $9,395 Stark City of Louisville Develop a skate park at Wilson Skate Park $24,958 Stark Village of Minerva Renovate pool at Brock Park $12,032 Summit City of Green Develop a skate park at Green Skate Park $13,327 Summit Twinsburg Township Develop playground and pavilion at Holly Smith Park $37,436 Trumbull Village of Lordstown Develop gazebo at Central Park $24,204 Tuscarawas City of New Philadelphia Renovation of parking lot at Tuscora Park $12,989 VanWert Village of Wren Develop playground for Village of Wren Park $7,869 Warren Warren County Park District Develop playground for Hisey Park $16,699 Washington Village of Beverly Renovate basketball and tennis courts at Beverly Pool Park $11,250 Washington City of Marietta Renovate restroom at Buckeye Park $10,600 Wayne City of Orrville Renovate basketball courts at Orr Park $54,491 Wayne Village of Smithville Develop bike/pedestrian path at Village Park $31,949 Wood Village of Weston Develop playground at Old Schoolhouse Park $15,508 Wyandot Village of Nevada Acquire four acres for Village Park $12,917 Wyandot City of Upper Sandusky Develop multi-use trail from Stone Park to Fairgrounds Path $4,098     Total: $1,757,929   For Additional Information Contact: Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations (614) 265-6860 -or- Dameyon Shipley, ODNR Real Estate & Land Management (614) 265-6646

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