news editorWritten by:
8/6/2007 4:00 PM

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