|
Friends of Metro Parks
Advocacy Issues | Ohio Legislators
Federal Legislators | Save the Gorge!
Friends of Metro Parks is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the park district in many ways, including contacting legislators and educating visitors about important issues. Membership dues allow Friends to support the mission and programs of the park district.
YOU can help preserve and promote the parks you enjoy by becoming a Friend. Membership is tax deductible and good for one year. DOWNLOAD A MEMBERSHIP FORM
For more information: 330-865-1027, info@friendsofmetroparks.org.
Advocacy Issues
It is in the best interest of Friends to stay informed about the issues that affect our Metro Parks, including:
Clean Ohio Fund: The purpose of the Clean Ohio Fund is to preserve green space and farmland, improve outdoor recreation and revitalize neighborhoods by cleaning up and redeveloping polluted properties. Locally, Metro Parks has received Clean Ohio Funds for development of the Towpath Trail. Clean Ohio Funds have been distributed across the state three times since Governer Taft passed legislation in 2000. Meetings, sponsored by the Ohio League of Conservation Voters, have been held around the state to determine the future of the fund, build a strong base of supporters and gather information to evaluate the program and identify successes and failures. Without additional legislation, future funding could disappear. For more information, visit cleanohio.gov.
Deer Management: Metro Parks is charged with managing natural resources, and a balance must be maintained between a healthy deer population and a healthy ecosystem. Friends of Metro Parks fully supports the park district's deer-density reduction plan, which has received approval from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, and similar methods have proven successful in other parks throughout Ohio and the United States. All harvested animals are processed and given to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.
NEPA: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported HR 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, on March 15. The bill is controversial and flawed. It contains language that would "streamline" and thereby weaken the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provisions for Corps of Engineers projects. It reauthorizes many dozens of previously authorized pork barrel projects. It does not contain the peer review or mitigation reforms adopted by the Senate last year. For more information, view the NEPA alert.
Ohio Legislators
Senator Kevin Coughlin (R), District 27
State House, Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-466-4823; 330-923-1481
fax:614-644-5879
kcoughli@mailr.sen.state.oh.us |
Senator Tom Sawyer (D), District 28
State House, Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-466-7041
fax:614-466-4120
senatorsawyer@maild.sen.state.oh.us |
State Rep Stephen Dyer (D), District 43
77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-466-1790
fax:614-719-6943
District43@ohr.state.oh.us |
State Rep John Otterman (D), District 45
77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-644-6037
fax:614-719-6945
District45@ohr.state.oh.us |
State Rep Vernon Sykes (D), District 44
77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-466-3100
fax:614-719-6944
District44@ohr.state.oh.us |
State Rep John Widowfield (R), District 42
77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-466-1177
fax:614-719-6942
District42@ohr.state.oh.us |
State Rep Brian Williams (D), District 41
77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
ph:614-644-5085; 330-864-8477
fax:614-719-6941
District41@ohr.state.oh.us |
|
Federal Legislators
The Honorable Sherrod Brown (D)
U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. 20510
ph:800-205-6446; 614-469-5186
fax:202-224-5516 |
The Honorable George V. Voinovich (R)
U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. 20510
ph:800-205-6446; 614-469-6697
fax:202-228-1382 |
The Honorable Betty Sutton (D)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
ph:330-865-8450
fax:330-865-8470 |
The Honorable Tim Ryan (D)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
ph:330-373-0074; 800-856-4152
fax:202-225-3719 |
|
|