Summit Metro Parks strives to match every dollar of levy funding with outside grants and donations to maximize our ability to conserve land and provide outstanding outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. We regularly pursue a variety of funding sources, but one of our most impactful and valued partners has been the Clean Ohio Fund, which is celebrating 25 years of conservation investment across the state.
Origin of the Clean Ohio Fund
In November 2000, Ohio voters approved a statewide bond initiative, commonly known as the Clean Ohio Fund, to invest in environmental restoration, conservation, farmland preservation and trail development. The fund was established in response to a long history of ecological decline, loss of wetlands and impacts to wildlife and overall biodiversity. The fund is managed by Ohio Public Works, which oversees the acquisition and restoration of natural areas, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which provides funding for trail construction and park development projects.
Projects funded through Clean Ohio provide a wide range of benefits to Ohioans, including job creation, tourism, increased property values, agricultural productivity, enhanced tax revenue and improved quality of life. These investments strengthen local economies while protecting the natural assets that make Ohio communities desirable places to live, work and visit.
Over the past 25 years, Summit County — and Summit Metro Parks in particular — has benefited tremendously from Clean Ohio funding. Nearly $60 million has come to Summit County to support the acquisition, protection and restoration of conservation lands and to wisely develop trails for public enjoyment.
Local impact
Several Metro Parks would not exist without this support, including Springfield Bog Metro Park and the future Twin Creeks Metro Park (formerly Boughton farm). Additionally, many existing parks and natural areas have been expanded with Clean Ohio assistance, increasing total protected acreage and enhancing public access to nature.
Many of these projects were completed in partnership with respected conservation organizations, including Trust for Public Land, West Creek Conservancy and The Western Reserve Land Conservancy. These partnerships further stretch local tax dollars and strengthen our collective ability to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our region.
Acquiring and protecting land alone is often not enough to fully realize ecological benefits — particularly in a region like Summit County, which has a long history of land modification from industrial development and agriculture. Clean Ohio has also played a vital role in restoring degraded natural environments. Park district properties including Sand Run Metro Park, the Valley View Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park and Pond Brook Conservation Area have been funded in large part through this program, resulting in improved water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat and healthier ecosystems.
In addition to protecting and restoring resources, the Clean Ohio Fund provides funding for land acquisition and construction that helps complete regional trail systems and improve connections for recreation and commuting. Through this program, Summit Metro Parks has received funding to help complete sections of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in New Franklin and Clinton, as well as portions of the Freedom Trail.
Looking ahead
Summit Metro Parks is deeply grateful to the State of Ohio and voters who continue to support conservation and recreation through programs like these. As we celebrate 25 years of Clean Ohio, we look forward to continuing this successful partnership to conserve Summit County’s natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.
For more stories like this, check out Green Islands magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.