Portage Park District conserves 550 acres in Shalersville

The Portage Park District recently partnered with Western Reserve Land Conservancy to purchase and conserve a 550 acre property in Shalersville. The land was formerly a sand and gravel mine, and the park district has plans to turn it into a park.

The project was funded through a combination of government and organization grants including  $1.65 million from the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Fund and about $1.1 million from a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. Roughly $100,000 in local funds was also provided by Portage Park District. Apex Clean Energy, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, contributed $125,000 to restore 180 acres of native meadow habitat, according to a press release from PPD.

The property includes unmined forests and wetlands as well as mined land and lakes. As part of the conservation effort, PPD has eliminated various invasive plants and shrubs on the land with hopes to restore numerous rare plant species that historical records indicate once occurred on the land.

"The property offers exciting opportunities to preserve intact wetlands, forests, and rare plant communities, while at the same time providing opportunities to restore and heal the landscape," said Bob Lange, Park District Natural Areas Manager. "Such habitat is critical to breeding and survival of our native grassland bird species, as well as our pollinators and other wildlife."